§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the questions in the document CONFER 4743/00, prepared by the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the member states for the intergovernmental conference; [124864]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the options for determining the method for fixing the allocation of seats in the European Parliament, as set out in document CONFER 4740/00, prepared by the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the member states for the intergovernmental conference; [124866]
(3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the suggested approach to the extension of co-decision procedures, set out in document CONFER 4740/00, prepared by the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the member states for the intergovernmental conference; [124865]
(4) in which areas the UK delegation has objected in principle to specific points in relation to the list of Articles suggested for an extension of qualified majority voting in Annex I of paper CONFER 4757/00, prepared for the intergovernmental conference; [124867]
(5) if he will place in the Library a copy of the UK delegation's response to the questions asked in the document CONFER 4728/00, prepared by the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the member states for the intergovernmental conference. [124869]
§ Mr. VazDiscussion at the level of the Preparatory Group and at Ministerial level has been based on conference papers produced by the Presidency. These papers do not require a formal response from member states' Governments, but form a basis for discussion. The Government's approach to the issues raised in these discussions is set out in the White Paper "IGC: Reform for Enlargement".
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the options for(a) the Economic and Social Committee and (b) the Committee of the Regions, set out in document CONFER 4741/00, prepared by the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the member states for the intergovernmental conference. [124868]
§ Mr. VazConference papers are produced by the Presidency for discussion at both Preparatory Group and ministerial levels. They do not require a formal response from member states' Governments. Discussion so far has focused mainly on the size and composition of the Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the442W Regions. For reasons of cost and effectiveness, the Government would not like to see either the Economic and Social Committee or the Committee of the Regions grow much above their present size after enlargement, although we shall ensure that the UK continues to be fairly represented on both Committees.