§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the answer of 26 November, Official Report, whether the court cases referred to involve the Obscene Publications Acts, the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and the Customs (Consolidation) Act 1876; whether the instructions were in writing; and if he will publish them.
178WSmedley. There is no question of rushing the section 1(3) Order through the House. The Government have made it clear throughout that they would not ask the House to approve the intergovernmental agreement until the European Community Council of Ministers has finally adopted the text on budgetary discipline. That has not yet been done; the question of budgetary discipline is on the agenda of the European Council this week. The House will have a full opportunity to debate the intergovernmental agreement and to vote before any money is paid to the Community.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he tabled the order providing for supplementary funds for the Common Market before an agreement had been reached on budgetary restraint.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe draft Order was tabled in good time, so as to provide full opportunity for considering it. The Government repeatedly made it clear that Parliament would not be asked to approve implementation of the intergovernmental agreement for supplementary funds for 1984 before effective measures on budgetary discipline have been adopted.