§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) 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; [117212]
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; [117235]
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; [117239]
933Won 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. [117259]
§ Mr. CaplinAlthough Defence Ministers meet regularly to discuss defence issues as part of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, they are not involved in legislation. Decisions on the common strategies, common positions and joint actions which the European Council may adopt in support of its Common Foreign and Security Policy require unanimity.