§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the criteria used in selecting the United Kingdom representative on the committee of permanent representatives to the European Council; and if he will list those who have represented the United Kingdom on COREPER since 1 January 1973.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe United Kingdom's permanent representatives to the European Communities since accession in 1973 have been:
All have been senior members of Her Majesty's diplomatic service with extensive experience of European Community affairs.
- Sir Michael Palliser, 1971–75
- Sir Donald Maitland, 1975–79
- Sir Michael Butler, 1979–85
- Sir David Hannay, 1985 to date.