HC Deb 20 December 1999 vol 341 c353W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the remit of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee. [103047]

The Prime Minister

The Terms of Reference of the Joint Consultative Committee are

"To consider policy issues of joint interest to the Government and the Liberal Democrats."

Under these Terms of Reference, the Committee has agreed that it will also consider issues arising from European Union institutional reform which are being considered by the European Council.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Prime Minister if Liberal Democrat members of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee are under an obligation not to disclose publicly the content of discussions in that forum. [103077]

The Prime Minister

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 20 January 1999,Official Report, columns 484–85W.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Prime Minister who attended the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee meeting on 13 December on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Party. [103081]

The Prime Minister

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 5 July 1999,Official Report, column 362W.