§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union have been held since it was established under the Maastricht treaty; what reports have been received from the Committee to date; what responses have been made to these reports; and what has been the cost of United Kingdom required representation to the Committee.
§ Mr. David DavisThere have been five plenary meetings of the EC's Committee of the Regions. The Council has so far received 20 opinions from the Committee. The Council makes no formal response to opinions, but takes them into account during the decision-making process. No attendance is required at Committee meetings. Members receive travel and subsistence allowances for meetings which they do attend. We do not hold information on expenses paid to individual Committee members.