§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
What role they play in the working groups of the Council of Ministers; what British representation there is in these groups, and whether it consists entirely of civil servants; and whether such groups are answerable to Parliament and if so, how.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEThe Member States of the European Community, including the United Kingdom, are represented on Council working groups by members of their Permanent Representations, by home-based officials, or by both. Some working groups are in effect standing Committees dealing with general subjects such as transport or the right of establishment; others aread hoc groups to study specific Commission proposals or specific problems. Departmental Ministers are answerable in the usual way to Parliament for the actions of their officials.