HC Deb 13 December 1972 vol 848 cc166-7W
66. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public funds will be devoted to the celebration of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market in Brussels in October 1973 at a festival called Europalia; and on which Vote they will be placed.

Mr. Amery

As part of the programme for improving our cultural relations with Europe announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 6th March, the British Council will contribute £80,000 towards the Europalia Festival in Brussels next year. Europalia is a biennial Arts Festival devoted in turn to the cultural achievements of individual countries in the European Community. The country represented in 1969 was Italy and in 1971 the Netherlands. The 1973 festival will be devoted to the United Kingdom. The funds will be carried on the Foreign and Commonwealth Services Vote.—[Vol. 832, c.222–4.]

Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for the English text of each European Economic Community regulation to be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum similar to the explanatory memorandum of British parliamentary Bills.

Mr. John Davies

Article 190 of the European Economic Community Treaty provides that EEC regulations, directives and decisions shall state the reasons on which they are based. Accordingly, they already contain preambles which set out the legal basis for the instrument and the practical considerations which make it necessary or desirable.

Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make arrangements for Members who so desire to be supplied with all European Economic Community regulations on a regular standing order basis.

Mr. John Davies

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 7th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).—[Vol. 847, c.520.]