§ Lord O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to end the secret legislative activity of the Council of Ministers of the EEC.
576WA
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, all proposals for Council legislation are available to the Scrutiny Committees before the Council takes decisions on them. It is usual for there to be wide discussion with interested parties before proposals are made and while they are under negotiation in the Council. Through the scrutiny procedures Parliament has an opportunity to debate the important items. The process of reaching agreement in the Council on legislation is to seek a consensus by negotiation, taking full account of the various views expressed. Negotiation cannot be conducted successfully in public and Her Majesty's Government have no plans to propose a change.