HC Deb 31 July 1974 vol 878 cc201-2W
Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to the Council of Ministers of the European Community that it meet in public.

Mr. Hattersley

The proceedings of the Council normally take the form of a negotiation between the representatives of member States on specific proposals; and it would not in general be practicable to conduct such exchanges in public. I am not proposing changes at this stage.

Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his talks with the Belgian Foreign Minister on the reform of the working of the EEC Council of Ministers.

Mr. Hattersley

My right hon. Friend had hoped to discuss a wide range of subjects with the Belgian Foreign Minister on 26th July but his visit to this country unfortunately had to be cancelled because of my right hon. Friend's unavoidable absence in Geneva for the Cyprus talks.