§ Lord Topeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they propose to fill vacancies which occur amongst the United Kingdom membership of the European Union Committee of the Regions.
§ Lord CheshamArticle 198a of the Treaty of European Union states that members of the Committee are appointed by "the Council, acting unanimously on proposals from respective Member States". In this country, proposals are made by my right honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the recommendation of my right honourable Friends the Secretaries of State for Environment, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in consultation with local authority associations.
§ Lord Topeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will use the opportunity created by any vacancies arising among the United Kingdom membership of the European Union Committee of the Regions to correct the present political imbalance in that membership.
§ Lord CheshamThe political balance of the UK membership of the Committee of the Regions reflects that of local government in 1993, when the committee was convened. The political balance will be maintained for the four-year term of the committee. Any vacancies which arise during this period will be filled by a representative of the same political group as the former member.