HC Deb 08 July 2003 vol 408 cc717-8W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal(a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority; [117206]

(2) 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; [117222]

(3) 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; [117238]

(4) 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. [117254]

Caroline Flint

There are limited areas in the Justice and Home Affairs Council which are subject to qualified majority voting (QMV). Since 1999 and for those measures in Title IV of the Treaty on the European Community subject to QMV where the UK has opted into their adoption, no measures have been adopted with the UK abstaining, outvoted or part of a blocking minority. All measures in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union are adopted by unanimity. Information for the years 1997–99 is available only at disproportionate cost.