HC Deb 09 December 1993 vol 234 cc364-5W
14. Mr. Barnes

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals she has made, in the light of the decisions of the European Councils in Edinburgh 1992 and Brussels 1993, to increase the transparency and accountability of decision-making, including the recording of votes of each member state, at meetings of European Community Councils of Ministers at which her Department is represented;and if she will make a statement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The Government fully support the conclusions reached at Edinburgh and Brussels on openness.

The Foreign Affairs Council agreed on 6 December that votes in all Councils on legislative decisions will be published automatically unless a majority of the Council oppose this.

This procedure is fully consistent with the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council last December.

Voting details are now published by the Council secretariat after Council meetings; we shall ensure that this information is provided to Parliament.