§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will open representation offices for the devolved Administrations. [17239]
§ Mr. StrawUnder the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding and the concordat on International Relations between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations, the devolved Administrations may establish offices within the framework of their responsibility for devolved matters in consultation with the FCO. The FCO and the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union have already assisted the devolved Administrations to establish offices in Brussels. The FCO will continue to assist the Administrations and to provide such advice as they require. Considerable efforts are also made within the UK to consult the devolved Administrations on EU matters. Ministers from each of the devolved Administrations are members of a Cabinet Committee which I chair.