§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh Office officials will either be resident in, or will regularly visit Brussels after Great Britain enters the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI expect that Welsh Office officials will be paying many visits to Brussels, but it is impossible to forecast precise numbers. Two of my senior officials are at the EEC Commission headquarters this week. I foresee at present no need for my officials to take up residence in Brussels.
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§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales what negotiations he has had with the European Economic Community Commission with regard to the designation of Wales as a peripheral area for purposes of receiving regional aid.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasArticle 154 of the Treaty of Accession provides that the Council of Ministers' resolution of October, 1971, on central and peripheral areas shall apply to new member States from 1st July, 1973. Discussions will be held in the intervening period between Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission on this question, including the accepted need to supplement the text of the resolution to take account of the position of new member States. My Department will be closely involved in these discussions.