§ Mr. DykesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take immediate steps with his EU counterparts, following the council meeting of 18 April and Committee of Permanent Representatives' advice, to ensure the fullest application of the Council of Ministers information code to provide citizens of the Union with fully open information on all Council legislative decision making, including items normally falling within the inter-governmental pillars.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryWe have strongly supported moves to increase openness in the Community. The code of conduct on access to information agreed in December 1993 rightly affirms the general principle that there should be the widest possible access by the public to documents held by the Council and Commission, with certain612W necessary safeguards. This code complements the decisions on open council sessions and publication of votes.
§ Ms QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU colleagues about rules governing the secrecy of Council of Ministers documents including minutes of Council meetings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe General Affairs Council on 19 April had a brief discussion on an application fromThe Guardian newspaper for access to a number of Council documents, but was unable to reach a decision.