§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make arrangements for the texts of the dated and signed explanatory memoranda from Ministers concerning each proposal for draft legislation and other documents placed before the Council of Ministers of the European Community currently deposited in the Vote Office of Parliament to be printed and published at regular intervals.
§ Mr. David DavisExplanatory memoranda are currently lodged at four depository libraries in the United Kingdom and are accessible through public libraries. Interested parties may obtain from Departments the information contained in individuals EMs on draft Community proposals which concern them. Memoranda often cover fast—moving issues, and remain useful only for a limited period. Against this background, we consider that the costs of publishing EMs at regular intervals would be disproportionate to the likely benefits.