§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount for each of the last four years spent by the European Parliament on Members of the European Parliament's private expenses, broken down into(a) secretarial, (b) hotel and accommodation, (c) travel and (d) other expenses; and what was the average amount in each category per Member for the last available year.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information requested is not immediately available. A further reply will be given in due course.
§ Sir Geoffrey FinsbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he will make to the European Parliament report containd in document A2–425/88 which calls for the merging of the European Community and Western European Union.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe report in question is a Committee report which has not been debated at a European Parliament plenary session. There are no plans for such a merger.
§ Sir Geoffrey FinsbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to request the Council of Ministers of the European Community to draw to the attention of the European Parliament and its Committees the exclusion of defence matters from their competence.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo. The European Parliament is an independent Community institution. It is not for the Council to determine what the Parliament may discuss.