§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the views of Her Majesty's Government on the concept of a Community ombudsman to protect the rights of citizens in the EC, following the agreement of the European Council that the matter should be examined, and on the matters which will be considered in relation to the particular problems in some member states.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesSuggestions have been made by other member states for establishing a European Community ombudsman. These will be discussed in the intergovernmental conference. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the debate on 11 June last year, we will examine this idea sympathetically, on condition that it does not duplicate or overlap with member states' existing arrangements and provides a service of value to the individual citizen without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.