§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of votes which will be given to each EEC member state when the Council is required to act by a qualified majority, including those assigned to Spain and Portugal; and how article 148 of the treaty is to be amended with the accession of Spain and Portugal.
§ Mr. RifkindThe detailed arrangements for voting in the Council after the enlargement of the Community will be set out in the draft treaty which will be placed before the House after signature. It is agreed, however, that the proportion of votes required for a qualified majority in the enlarged Community will be the same as in the present Community. The intention is that article 148 of the treaty will be amended to give 8 votes to Spain and 5 to Portugal, raising the number of votes in the Council from 63 to 76. The qualified majority will go from 45 to 54.