Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the departmental responsibilities regarding(a) responding to invitations by the energy committee of the European Parliament to submit written or oral evidence before any of its investigations involving a United Kingdom interest, (b) responding to invitations by any special committee of inquiry of the European Parliament to submit written or oral evidence on topics involving United Kingdom interests and (c) responding to reports by the energy committee of the European Parliament on matters directly concerning United Kingdom nuclear facilities.
§ Mr. ParkinsonOn matters falling within the responsibility of my Department I would decide, after consulting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Departments concerned, whether to respond to invitations by the energy committee or any special committee of inquiry of the European Parliament to submit evidence on topics involving United Kingdom interests. There is no formal procedure under which a member state can respond to reports by committees of the European Parliament.