HC Deb 14 February 1973 vol 850 c357W
73. Sir Gilbert Longden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that Parliament is being furnished with all necessary information about the proposals of the European Commission before they are submitted to the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Davies

Yes. The Commission's proposals for instruments to be made by the Council are received by Her Majesty's Government at an early stage, when they are formally submitted by the Commission to the Council Secretariat. The English versions are immediately reproduced, and 100 copies are made available within 48 hours to the Vote Office. The proposals incorporate preambles which set out the legal, practical and economic grounds for their substantive provisions.