Mr. Allan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about future United Kingdom representation on the Economic and Social Committee of the EEC.
§ Mr. HattersleySince accession to the European Communities, the United Kingdom has filled 16 out of a possible 24 seats on the Economic and Social Committee. The current term of appointment of all existing members of the committee expires on 22nd August 1974, and three of the present United Kingdom members have expressed the wish not to be reappointed. The Government have decided that it is appropriate for the United Kingdom to continue to be represented on the Economic and Social Committee during renegotiation but that it is not appropriate at the present stage to nominate new members to fill the vacancies left by retiring members. They have therefore renominated the 13 members who wish to continue to serve, but will not for the time being be making, any further nominations.