§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in re-instating unanimous voting in European Economic Community Council of Ministers' procedures; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's approach and the steps that have so far been taken in pursuit of this policy.
§ Mr. RifkindAs my right hon. Friend informed the House on 22 June, when the Foreign Ministers discuss this question at his request on 20 June, five member States supported the principle that decisions should be deferred where a member State considers that its important national interests are at stake. The position is thus, as it has been since 1966, that there is a division of opinion on this question and the Government expect that the practice which the community has followed, with one exception, since 1966 will continue to operate.—[Vol. 26, c. 155.]