§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement of 18 January 2000,Official Report, column 669, whether border controls, defence, taxation, social security, own resources and Treaty amendments represent a definitive list of issues in which he will not countenance an extension of qualified majority voting at the IGC. [107397]
§ Mr. VazWe have long made it clear that we will not support the extension of QMV to areas of key national interest. Border controls, defence, taxation, social security, own resources and Treaty change are examples of such areas.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the level of the blocking minority threshold for votes in the EU Council of Ministers. [107348]
§ Mr. VazThe threshold for a blocking minority has for many years been set at around 30 per cent. of the votes. The Government's view is that this sets about the right balance between ease with which legislation can be passed or blocked.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 18 January 2000,Official Report, column 670, what is his policy on extension of qualified majority voting to all areas which are currently the subject of dispute between Spain and the UK in respect of their application to Gibraltar. [107398]
§ Mr. VazWe have made it clear on a number of occasions that we will consider the extension of qualified majority voting on a case by case basis. Where it is in Britain's interests we will support it. But in key areas of national interest we shall insist on retaining unanimity.