§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of the Council of Ministers he has attended during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy right hon. Friend has not attended any meetings of the Council of Ministers but my hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has attended two Councils; the Fisheries Council on 19 October as head of the United Kingdom delegation; and the Agriculture Council on 26 October. On the occasions where Scottish Office Ministers do not personally attend they are represented at all EC Council meetings by senior officials or by their colleagues in the United Kingdom Government.