Council of Ministers (Hansard, 3 July 2003)

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal(a) was sufficient and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority. [117216]

§ Mr. Alexander
The Minister for the Cabinet Office has not voted in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal since May 1997. The Minister for the Cabinet Office does not attend meetings of the Council of Ministers, as the Department does not have the policy lead on any issues debated there.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting. [117234]

§ Mr. Alexander
The Department has not abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal passed by qualified majority voting since May 1997. The Minister for the Cabinet Office does not attend meetings of the Council of Ministers, as the Department does not have the policy lead on any issues debated there.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year. [117252]
384W

§ Mr. Alexander
The Department has not been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers since May 1997. The Minister for the Cabinet Office does not attend meetings of the Council of Ministers, as the Department does not have the policy lead on any issues debated there.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention. [117263]

§ Mr. Alexander
The Department has not indicated dissent without registering a vote or abstention from a proposal in the Council of Ministers since May 1997. The Minister for the Cabinet Office does not attend meetings of the Council of Ministers, as the Department does not have the policy lead on any issues debated there.