HC Deb 22 June 1999 vol 333 cc354-5W
21. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek to extend the scope of qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [86594]

Ms Quin

The possible extension of qualified majority voting will be one of the subjects covered in the Inter-Governmental Conference starting in early 2000. We will look at options on a case by case basis. Where it makes practical sense to extend QMV, we will support it. But where key national interests need to be protected, such as on border controls, Treaty change, taxation, defence and social security, we will insist on retaining unanimity.