HC Deb 12 December 1997 vol 302 cc710-1W
Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State of 4 December 1997,Official Report, column 567, where, when and between whom the exchanges in private relating to the agreement between Spain and the Dutch presidency took place. [20580]

Mr. Doug Henderson

This is not a matter on which we can give precise answers, since by definition, no representative of the Government was present.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State of 4 December 1997,Official Report, column 567, when the attempt to clarify the mix-up over the Spanish amendment to the Treaty of Amsterdam was made. [20579]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We first contacted the Presidency about this matter on 20 June.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State of 4 December 1997,Official Report, column 567, when the bilateral understanding between the Dutch presidency and the Spanish government was reached. [20581]

Mr. Doug Henderson

I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave him on 2 December 1997,Official Report, columns 122–23.