§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the President of the Council, what plans he has to bring forward proposals to give further powers to Select Committees to take evidence on matters relating to European policy and European draft legislative proposals; and if he will make a statement. [80384]
§ Mr. Robin CookI refer the hon. Lady to the Government's Observations on the Thirtieth Report of the European Scrutiny Committee 2001–02, European Scrutiny in the Commons (Second Special Report of that Committee 2001–02, HC 1256), particularly paragraphs 6 and 34–36. Select Committees have power already to take evidence on matters relating to European policy and European draft legislative proposals; and the Liaison Committee's recent guidance to select committees on core objectives and tasks specifically asks them to examine policy proposals from the European Commission.