HC Deb 30 November 1979 vol 974 cc850-1W
Mr. Leighton

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure that the problem of organising the work of the European Economic Community is solved by cutting down on the work of the Commission, as she undertook to do in her answer to the question put by the hon. Member for Newham, North-East on 15 November concerning the European Economic Community legislation.

The Prime Minister

It is for the Commission to take its own decisions, but the President of the Commission has indicated that he takes a similar view to that expressed in my earlier reply.

Mr. Leighton

asked the Prime Minister how many of her officials were sent to Brussels in 1978 to discuss EEC matters; what was the total man-days involved; and what was the cost to public funds of travel and subsistence, including sums reimbursed by the Commission.

The Prime Minister

The information asked for does, of course, relate to the period of office of the previous Administration. I understand that in 1978 officials from the Prime Minister's Office visited Brussels only once, when the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) attended a European Council meeting, and that six officials were involved. The total number of man-days concerned was 12, and the cost to public funds of travel and subsistence was £1,819.