Immovable Property (Hansard, 18 April 1994)

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 April,Official Report, column 101, on the report on information and protection of transactions concerning immovable property purchased by consumers, if he will now make it his policy to bring forward proposals to ensure that member Governments of the European Community are entitled (a) to see and (b) to publish for consultation all reports commissioned by the European Commission.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
No. The publication of reports commissioned by the European Commission is a matter for the Commission itself. However, the majority of these reports are likely to be available under the agreement on public access to documents held by the Council and Commission.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 April,Official Report, column 99, on information and protection of transactions concerning immovable property purchased by consumers, if he will make it his policy to bring forward proposals to ensure that in future the European Commission informs the United Kingdom Government of all the reports which it commissions.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
No. The European Commission commissions large numbers of reports annually to assist it in its work. These reports are the property of the Commission, which itself decides whether or not they should be published. However, under the code of conduct on access to Council and Commission documents, we would expect the public to have access to the majority of such reports.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 April,Official Report, column 100, on the report on information and protection of transactions concerning immovable property purchased by consumers, if he will now make it his policy to require the European Commission to make known to the United Kingdom Government the cost of this and of all future such reports which it commissions.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
No. The cost of reports commissioned by the European Commission is a matter for the Commission itself. However the Commission must ensure that all its expenditure is consistent with the treaties and Community legislation, including requirements for sound financial management. It is also subject to examination by the Court of Auditors as to the legality and regularity of transactions.