European Commission (Northern Ireland)

HC Deb 27 June 1980 vol 987 cc341-2W

Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the representation of the European Commission in Northern Ireland.

Sir Ian Gilmour

The European Commission opened an information office in Belfast on 29 May. It has a staff of three, shortly to be increased to four. The office carries out similar work in Northern Ireland to that done by the commission's information offices in Scotland and Wales.

There will be a formal ceremony in the autumn at which the office will be opened officially by the President of the Commission, Mr. Roy Jenkins.

Brussels on 18 December 1979, came into effect on 1 April 1980.