§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister if it remains the intention of the Government in the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference on the proposed EU constitution not to accept qualified majority voting on all matters of social security. [169765]
§ The Prime MinisterYes. Unanimity for social security for migrant workers is a Government red line.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list those policy areas where the Government have agreed that qualified majority voting should replace unanimity under the proposed EU Constitution. [169766]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Constitutional Treaty has not been agreed, but our approach to the extension of QMV will, as always, be to agree where it is in Britain's interests, but not to do so in areas where our national interests dictate otherwise. We welcome the use of QMV as the general rule for legislative proposals.
Those areas for which we will insist that unanimity remains are set out in the White Paper—The British Approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference 2003.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister if, consequent to his decision to hold a referendum on the proposed constitution of the European Union, he will publish a white paper in which in respect of each of the proposed articles he will state the part of any treaty1456W already in force which contains the same or amended, content; and, for those articles which do not, if he will set out an explanation of the case for the new provisions and their likely effect on the United Kingdom and its judicial procedures. [169893]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government will publish a range of material to accompany the Constitutional Treaty, including a laypersons' guide and a comprehensive analysis and comparison of the existing Treaties and the new Constitutional Treaty.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his Statement on Europe, of 20 April 2004,Official Report, columns 155-57, whether it is his policy to describe the draft Constitution for Europe as a tidying-up exercise. [170572]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government made clear their view of the draft constitutional treaty in their White Paper of September 2003—paragraphs 41 to 43. The draft treaty consolidates the existing treaties into a single logically ordered text; sets out a more transparent and accountable structure for the EU; makes it clear that the national Governments of the member states remain in control; and it provides for a more efficient European Union after enlargement.
There are a number of changes that the Government wish to see to the draft text. If a treaty is successfully negotiated it will not alter the constitutional relationship between the Union and the member states, and would be less far reaching than changes brought into effect by either the Single European Act or the Maastricht treaty.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement on Europe, of 20 April 2004,Official Report, columns 155–57, what factors he took into account in reaching his decision on whether to hold a referendum. [170573]
§ The Prime MinisterThe factors leading to the Government's decision to hold a referendum were set out in my statement of 20 April 2004,Official Report, columns 155–57.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask Prime Minister pursuant to his answer, of 21 April 2004,Official Report, column 287, what discussions he held with ministerial colleagues prior to his decision to hold a referendum on the European constitution. [170574]
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to my previous answer.