§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of committees of the EC each Scottish Office Minister chaired during the most recent United Kingdom Presidency.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 20 January 1993]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to meetings of the Council of Ministers. Scottish Office Ministers did not chair any meetings of the Council of Ministers during the United Kingdom presidency. However, my hon. Friend, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, lead for the United Kingdom at the Fisheries Councils on 19 October and 23 November and shared the lead for the United Kingdom at the Fisheries Council on 19 December, and also attended the Agriculture Council on 26 October. My hon. Friend, the Minister for Education for Scotland, attended the Education Council on 27 November. On the occasions where Scottish Office Ministers do not personally attend, they are represented at all meetings of the Council of Ministers by senior officials or by their colleagues in the United Kingdom Government.