HC Deb 13 June 1986 vol 99 c339W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the number of occasions in 1980, and in each succeeding year when Her Majesty's Ministers declined to agree with a legislative proposal of the Commission of the European Economic Community, presented under article 100 of the treaty of Rome.

Mrs. Chalker

A substantial number of proposals are put forward by the Commission under article 100 each year. These proposals are rarely agreed to by the Council in their original form but are changed to reflect the views of member states and to be capable of adoption by the Council. The United Kingdom has played a full part in that process but it is not possible to enumerate the occasions on which proposals have been amended to reflect our views.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give or estimate the number of occasions in each of the years 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 when the Commission of the European Economic Community has laid new regulations or amendments to those proposed, consequent to the opinions of the European Assembly.

Mrs. Chalker

The Commission reports each month to the European Parliament on the action it has taken on the Parliament's opinions. These reports are reproduced in the "Report of Proceedings" published as an annex to theOfficial Journal, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The reports show that the Commission frequently amends its proposals in response to the views expressed by the European Parliament. In the time available it has not been possible to calculate the number of such amendments over the period in question. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available.