§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated increase in the number of civil servants employed by the EEC as a result of setting up the directly elected European Parliament.
§ Mr. JuddNeither the Assembly nor the Commission has yet made proposals for any increase in their staff as a result of setting up the directly elected European Assembly. A proposal for a small increase in the staff of the Council secretariat will shortly be considered.
All proposals for extra staff are subject to the normal budgetary procedures.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums of money from EEC sources are available to Her Majesty's Government for information regarding direct elections; how it is to be used, or distributed; what are the sums being made available from United Kingdom Government sources; and to whom these sums are being allocated.
17W
§ Mr. JuddAs my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury told my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 17 January, some £1,264,000 is being made available from Community funds to the London offices of the Commission and the Assembly for a common programme of factual information about the Assembly and direct elections. This programme is independent of the Government who will consider at the appropriate time whether it should be supple mented.—[Vol. 960, c. 779.]