HC Deb 19 November 1973 vol 864 cc336-7W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of major items now awaiting decisions by the EEC Council of Ministers, and show how long each matter has been before the Council.

Mr. Anthony Royle

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 16th October—[Vol. 861, c.120.]—there are currently some 200 draft regulations and directives before the Council. In addition, the Council is at any given moment considering a number of communications, memoranda and other items submitted by the Commission.

Copies of all proposals for Council legislation are made available to members as soon as they are put forward by the Commission. This is also the case with Commission communications, memoranda, etc. in the public domain. It is a matter of judgment which of these items are of major significance, but the following are among the important questions now before the Council for decision:

Item Date of latest Commission proposals
Stage II of Economic and Monetary Union 14th November
Regional Development Fund 11th October
Generalised Tariff Scheme of Preferences 31st October
Review of Common Agricultural Policy 5th November
Community's sugar policy 13th July
Social Action Programme 25th October