§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many European Economic Community regulations, directives and other decisions of the Council of Ministers were brought before the House, in total and by type, during 1985;
(2) in respect of what percentage of those European Economic Community regulations, directives and other 114W decisions of the Council of Ministers brought before the House in 1985 for debate with a recommendation for a decision, the Council's decision had already been published in the European Economic Community's Official Journal before the House debated them.
§ Mr. BiffenMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has asked me to reply on his behalf.
A total of 430 European Community documents incorporating proposals by the Commission were deposited in Parliament in 1985. Of these 283 (66 per cent.) were proposals for council regulations, 63 (15 per cent.) proposals for Council directives, and 84 (19 per cent.) proposals for council decisions. In the same year, following recommendations from the Commons Select Committee on European Legislation, 43 documents—some of which would have been deposited before 1985—were debated either on the Floor of the House or in Standing Committee, of which 25 (58 per cent.) concerned regulations, 16 (37 per cent.) directives, and 2 (5 per cent.) were decisions. 3 proposals (7 per cent. of those debated) were formally adopted by the Council of Ministers before the House had debated them. Two of these had been agreed by the Committee as being suitable for adoption before debate by the House; as for the third, the Chairman of the Commons Select Committee on European Legislation was informed of the position in accordance with the procedure laid down in the House of Commons resolution of 30 October 1980.