§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 and 25 May.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. Friend and I attended the meeting of the Council on 24 and 25 May. He gave the House yesterday an account of the discussions on the budget, the Luxembourg compromise and the Community embargo on imports from Argentina, which took place on the first day of the Council. There was also a discussion of some of the outstanding issues relating to the Genscher-Colombo proposals on European union. It was agreed that the ad hoc group of officials should continue its work on a revised text and that Foreign Ministers would consider the question again on 20 June. The Ministers meeting in political co-operation made a statement on a peaceful settlement in the war between Iran and Iraq. A copy of the statement is being placed in the Library of the House.
On the second day I represented the United Kingdom. There was a general discussion about preparations for the economic summit to be held at Versailles on 4 to 6 June. Ministers also had further discussions on the Commission's proposals for improvement in the conciliation procedure between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament and asked the Committee of Permanent Representatives to continue its examination of these proposals.
The Council took note of a formal proposal presented by Denmark for Greenland's withdrawal from full membership of the Community and for its future association with the Community. The Commission made
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Families and single people with low incomes in Scotland in 1979 Number of families and single persons Approximate percentage of all families and single persons in Scotland (a) Income below supplementary benefit level; not in receipt of supplementary benefit 110,000 5 (b) In receipt of supplementary benefit 260,000 10 (c) Income above supplementary benefit level but less than 40 per cent, above; not in receipt of supplementary benefit 250,000 10 Notes on the table 1. The estimate of those in receipt of supplementary benefit is derived from the annual statistical inquiry of supplementary benefit claimants. The estimates of those with incomes below and above supplementary benefit level have been based on the DHSS analysis of income and other information recorded by respondents to the family expenditure survey—FES—1979. 2. These estimates, which have been rounded to the nearest 10,000 relate only to people living in private households, as people in institutions are not part of the FES sample. The figure for supplementary benefit claimants has been so adjusted as to be based on similar assumptions. 3. Income refers to net income less net housing costs and work expenses where appropriate. The supplementary benefit level has been taken as the scale rate(s) appropriate to the family, using the long term rates for pensioners only, but with heating additions for people of 75 years and over, and children under five, where the head is a householder. a brief report on progress on the conclusion of agreement with Thailand and Indonesia and Brazil on manioc imports.
In the margins of the Council a second European Community-Egypt Co-operation Council was held at ministerial level. Economic technical and financial cooperation, trade, the implications of the enlargement of the Community, and a number of other points were discussed. The second European Community-Egypt financial protocol was also signed.