HC Deb 30 November 1999 vol 340 c160W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the planned date of publication of the proposed White Paper on the forthcoming intergovernmental conference; which departments are involved in drafting it; if it will identify the issues which the Government(a) does and (b) does not want included in the agenda for the IGC; and if it will guarantee that extensions of qualified majority voting in specified areas will not be approved by the Government. [100279]

Mr. Vaz

We intend to publish the White Paper early next year, before formal IGC negotiations begin. The paper will be drafted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with other Departments. It will set out our position on all major issues expected to be discussed at the intergovernmental conference, including the possible extension of qualified majority voting.