§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with(a) colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) counterparts in the European Union about the legislative competencies covered by the draft European constitution. [124779]
§ Mr. HuttonDepartment of Health officials and I have had regular correspondence and meetings with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to discuss all aspects of the Convention on the Future of Europe, including legislative competencies We have also been in regular contact with colleagues in member and accession states. Contact is expected to be maintained throughout the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference, expected to begin in October, to ensure that the United Kingdom's key objectives are met.