§ 17. Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions a Minister of the Welsh Executive has(a) accompanied a United Kingdom Minister for discussions with the European Union and (b) led on behalf of the UK at discussions with the European Union. [103505]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyUnder the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding and Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues between the United Kingdom Government, Scottish Ministers and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales, Assembly Secretaries are eligible to form part of UK delegations to the Council of Ministers, by agreement. Decisions on Ministerial attendance, and on whether Ministers from the devolved administrations could speak on behalf of the UK in Council, are taken on a case by case basis by the lead Minister.
To date, no Assembly Secretary has done so. However, I understand that Assembly Secretaries are actively considering which Councils they will be seeking to attend in future.