Council of Europe

HC Deb 31 July 1997 vol 299 cc493-4W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the September 1997 part session of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [12281]

The Prime Minister

The September 1997 part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 22 September. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the session will consist of 23 members of the Labour party, nine of the Conservative party and four members from the minority parties. The delegation will serve in place of the current delegation from the opening of September 1997 part-session.

The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned, in accordance with the resolution of this House on 22 May 1992, Official Report, column 682 and of the House of Lords on 18 June 1992, columns 290–92.

The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union.

Representatives from the Government benches will be:

The hon. Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis), who will act as leader; the hon. Members for Tooting (Mr. Cox); for Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe); for Sunderland, North (Mr. Etherington) for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn); for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe); for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara); for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall); for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara); for Glasgow Baillieston (Mr. Wray); Lord Kirkhill and Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede.

Representatives from the Conservative Party will be:

The hon. Members for: Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson); for Chipping Barnet (Sir Sydney Chapman); for East Yorkshire (Mr. Townend) and Lord Newall.

Representatives from the minority parties will be:

The right, hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) and Lord Russell-Johnston.

The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates.

From the Government Benches: the hon. Members for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer); for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones); for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Naysmith); for Dover (Mr. Prosser); for Stourbridge (Ms Shipley); for Basildon (Angela Smith); for Morecombe and Lunesdale (Miss Smith); for Leicestershire, North-West (Mr. Taylor); for Finchley and Golders Green; (Mr. Vis); Lord Grenfell and Lord Judd.

From the Conservative party—the hon. Members for Romsey (Mr. Colvin); for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles); for Solihull (Mr. Taylor); for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) and the Earl of Dundee.

From the minority parties—the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) and the Lord Steel of Aikwood.