§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 161, on European elections, if he will list the terms of the mandate 603W given to the General Affairs Group by the Committee of Permanent Representatives; by whom that mandate was approved; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the European Parliament's proposed common principles. [64095]
§ Ms QuinThe Committee of Permanent Representatives made the procedural decision to ask the General Affairs Group to examine the European Parliament's proposal for common principles for European elections with a view to making recommendations to the General Affairs Council. The principle of proportional representation is in line wit the Government's plan for changes to the system for European parliamentary elections in Great Britain. The Government therefore supports the broad aim of the proposal, thought the detailed issues remain to be resolved.