§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings of the Council of Ministers he has attended during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. David HuntAlthough it is not the practice for territorial Ministers to attend the majority of Council Ministers meetings, the United Kingdom's position at Councils represents the collective view reached following ministerial discussions in which I fully participate. I have also this year had the pleasure of hosting a gathering of Ministers as part of the EC informal Council on Social Affairs which met in Wales in October.