§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the issues for discussion before the Internal Market Council on 25 February, indicating the position he proposes to take on each issue. [72744]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 24 February 1999]Every six months, at the beginning of an EU Presidency, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), outlines to the House meetings expected during that Presidency. Every month, she gives the House details of the items expected at meetings of the Council of Minsters during that month. After each meeting of the Internal Market Council, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry reports back to the European Scrutiny Committee on the business conducted at the Council. He will be reporting back on the 25 February Council in the coming days. The Government have recently extended arrangements for scrutinising Council business to include the Second and Third Pillars of the Treaty on European Union, as well as the First Pillar. The Government will continue to promote the interests of the United Kingdom at all meetings of the Council of Ministers. However, it has not been the practice of successive Administrations to indicate the position that Ministers propose to take in advance of Council.