§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what function is performed by, the Observatory on Family Matters, appointed by the European Commission; what are its(a) terms of reference and (b) annual cost; and who represents Her Majesty's Government on it. [97955]
§ Angela EagleThe European Observatory on National Family Policies is the responsibility of the European Commission. I understand that its membership involves academics who produce annual reports monitoring family policy in each member state at a cost to the European Commission of £400,000 annually. The Government are not represented on the Observatory but the current UK national expert is Ceridwen Roberts of the Family Policy Study Centre.