§ Mr. Leightonasked the Prime Minister if she will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will use every endeavour to ensure that the powers of the European Assembly in relation to the EEC budget are reduced and not increased.
§ The Prime MinisterThe budgetary powers of the European Parliament are laid down in the treaties. To change those powers would require the unanimous agreement of the Council of Ministers and, in the case of the United Kingdom, the agreement of Parliament. At present there is no formal proposal for treaty revision to change the European Parliament's powers, and I see no reason to seek such a change.