§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the Instrument he signed in Brussels on 20th September last; what is the status of this document relative to the Treaty of Rome; and if it is the final version of the Draft Convention, a summary of which was published in the Official Report of March.
§ Dr. OwenOn 20th September 1976 my right hon. Friend signed a Decision of the Council of the European Communities, referring to Article 138(3) of the EEC Treaty, and the Act on direct elections which was annexed to that Decision. The texts were published in the European Communities series on 11th October (Command 6623). The form 131W chosen was adopted by the Council in preference to a convention. The provisions of the Act will only enter into force, in accordance with Article 16, after all Member States have completed the procedures necessary in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.