§ Mr. GryllsTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to veto any extension of EC competence into economic policy and economic advice.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government support the co-ordination of member states' economic policies. A process of multilateral surveillance of national economic policies has been established under the 1990 convergence decision, under which the Council of Ministers can publish non-binding recommendations directed at particular member states. The Government have argued in the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union that treaty provisions must be consistent with the principle that member states should retain primary responsibility on economic policy.
§ Mr. GryllsTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to veto any extension of EC competence into the field of social security.
§ The Prime MinisterSome limited EC competence in the field of social security already exists in article 51 of the current treaty of Rome. The Government see no case for any further extension.