HL Deb 27 October 2003 vol 654 cc3-4WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will describe the manner and procedure they expect to be adopted to enable Parliament to examine the outcome of the Rome conference considering a constitution for the European Union, which will enable both Houses to consider the implications of any articles therein, prior to the signing of any treaty incorporating the articles of any constitution agreed. [HL4741]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Parliament has already considered the text of the Convention on the Future of Europe, through debates in both Houses and scrutiny in the European Union Select Committee. Members of Parliament also took part in the work of the convention. During the intergovernmental conference (IGC) Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers will regularly appear before parliamentary committees, including the new IGC Standing Committee, to report on the conference's work. The IGC Standing Committee met for the first time on 20 October. Parliament of course will also have the final say on whether the resulting treaty will enter UK law.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the names of the Members of Her Majesty's Government attending the whole, or part of, the intergovernmental conference in Rome considering the draft of the proposed constitution for the European Union and the numbers and positions of officials and staff of Her Majesty's foreign and diplomatic service; and whether their attendance represents any departure from practice relating to previous negotiations of former Community and Union treaties. [HL4742]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The UK is represented at the intergovernmental conference (IGC) by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary accompanied by the Minister for Europe (Denis MacShane). They are accompanied at each session by officials and staff, in accordance with usual practice. Five Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and four accompanying staff members attended the European Council on 16–17 October, of which one session was devoted to the IGC.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any Member of Parliament not being a Minister of the Crown is concerned in negotiations, on its behalf, at the Rome conference considering the draft constitution for the European Union. [HL4743]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The only Members of Parliament participating in the IGC negotiations are Ministers of the Crown. We welcomed the role played by national Parliamentarians in the European Convention, which produced the draft text that has been the starting point for discussions at the IGC. We are also committed to engaging closely with Parliament throughout the IGC process, not least through Ministerial appearances at parliamentary committees, including the new IGC Standing Committee.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have published, or will publish, any papers presented to the constitutional conference in Rome by the Italian, or other, government, together with any response made to it or them by any Minister of the Crown. [HL4745]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Government's position on the intergovernmental conference is set out in the White PaperA Constitutional Treaty for the EU (Cm 5934). The Italian presidency has produced a number of public documents relating to the IGC which can be found on their website at: http://www.ueitalia2003.it/EN/ConferenzaIntergovernativa The presidency may request formal public responses to some of these documents, which will be displayed both on the presidency website and on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).