HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc1021-2W
Dr. Vis

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to Presidency Conclusions of the Seville European Summit, Annex II, Section E. what plans the Government have for (a) providing public facilities for viewing and listening to Council deliberations on legislation adopted by the co-decision procedure with the European Parliament (i) in London, (ii) in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and (iii) in major towns and cities in England, (b) publicising such facilities and the dates and times of the relevant Council meetings and (c) ensuring that access to such premises will be free of charge. [68341]

Peter Hain

The detailed arrangements for greater Council transparency, agreed at Seville, are still under discussion. It is clearly too early to judge the likely extent of media take-up of Council proceedings. But the Government remain committed to the principle that the work of the European Council should be accessible to the widest possible European public.