HC Deb 27 October 1997 vol 299 cc664-5W
Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made on the financing of new buildings for the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. [12510]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We have consistently pressed for value for money and sound financial practice in all European institutions. Overall ceilings for expenditure are set by the Council, but within that, spending by the European Parliament on building and other programmes is a matter for the Parliament in the first place, subject to scrutiny of its spending by the European Court of Auditors. We have not made separate representations.