§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given, before Her Majesty's Government agreed to the Maastricht treaty, to the implications of that treaty for qualified majority voting; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryBefore agreeing to the Maastricht treaty, we considered in detail the implications of the treaty for the use of qualified majority voting. In particular, we satisfied ourselves that in areas such as foreign policy, where supreme national interests are at stake, unanimity would continue to apply.