It is a real pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) and my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe in a debate that has already proved a great deal livelier and more interesting than even those of us who have been following the proceedings very...

It is a real pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) and my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe in a debate that has already proved a great deal livelier and more interesting than even those of us who have been following the proceedings very...

Does my hon. Friend accept that what she proposes is exactly what is set out in the protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality? Article 5 of the protocol says:"““Draft legislative acts shall be justified with regard to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Any draft...

Does my hon. Friend accept that what she proposes is exactly what is set out in the protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality? Article 5 of the protocol says:"““Draft legislative acts shall be justified with regard to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Any draft...

I entirely agree. My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. Whether on climate change or on a whole range of economic issues, the largest single market in the world needs to be able to operate effectively—and, when there is agreement, to speak with a single voice—if we are to...

I entirely agree. My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. Whether on climate change or on a whole range of economic issues, the largest single market in the world needs to be able to operate effectively—and, when there is agreement, to speak with a single voice—if we are to...

My hon. Friend and I have a completely different view of the EU. His description of a purely voluntary co-operation between independent nation states does not represent the European Community as it was originally formulated. There has always been, within the EU and the Communities that preceeded it, a pooling...

My hon. Friend and I have a completely different view of the EU. His description of a purely voluntary co-operation between independent nation states does not represent the European Community as it was originally formulated. There has always been, within the EU and the Communities that preceeded it, a pooling...

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the treaty protocol on the role of national Parliaments explicitly spells out that"““the way in which national Parliaments scrutinise their governments in relation to the activities of the European Union is a matter for the particular constitutional organisation and practice of each Member State””?"...

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the treaty protocol on the role of national Parliaments explicitly spells out that"““the way in which national Parliaments scrutinise their governments in relation to the activities of the European Union is a matter for the particular constitutional organisation and practice of each Member State””?"...

The hon. Gentleman referred to the improvements that have been made to the way in which the European Union disburses and manages its aid budget, but does he not realise that it is absurd for the Opposition to demand that EU aid, and trade policies towards developing countries, be made...

The hon. Gentleman referred to the improvements that have been made to the way in which the European Union disburses and manages its aid budget, but does he not realise that it is absurd for the Opposition to demand that EU aid, and trade policies towards developing countries, be made...

My right hon. Friend is making an extremely important point about the impact of co-operation and opting in, for instance, to the asylum qualifications directive under earlier arrangements. Does she agree that, contrary to the argument that we have heard being put by Opposition Members, it is precisely our ability...

My right hon. Friend is making an extremely important point about the impact of co-operation and opting in, for instance, to the asylum qualifications directive under earlier arrangements. Does she agree that, contrary to the argument that we have heard being put by Opposition Members, it is precisely our ability...

The right hon. Gentleman is being very generous. He is developing an argument, as did his Front-Bench colleagues, against the idea of legally binding minimum standards that result from co-operation between member states and with the European institutions, particularly in the protection of criminal suspects. However, does he not accept...

The right hon. Gentleman is being very generous. He is developing an argument, as did his Front-Bench colleagues, against the idea of legally binding minimum standards that result from co-operation between member states and with the European institutions, particularly in the protection of criminal suspects. However, does he not accept...

My right hon. Friend mentioned the contribution of the new Conservative Prime Minister of Denmark just today. Given the position of the new Danish Government, does my right hon. Friend agree that it is highly unlikely that that political party will join the Leader of the Opposition in the absurd...

My right hon. Friend mentioned the contribution of the new Conservative Prime Minister of Denmark just today. Given the position of the new Danish Government, does my right hon. Friend agree that it is highly unlikely that that political party will join the Leader of the Opposition in the absurd...

The next meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be on 2–3 June. I will attend for the United Kingdom. Items on the agenda relating to health will be covered on 3 June. Items for discussion are: European Commission proposals for a regulation of the...

The next meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be on 2–3 June. I will attend for the United Kingdom. Items on the agenda relating to health will be covered on 3 June. Items for discussion are: European Commission proposals for a regulation of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Clwyd South constituency, the effect on the constituency of policies pursued by her Department at the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Clwyd South constituency, the effect on the constituency of policies pursued by her Department at the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Russia Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Russia Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for Implementation of the Action Programme to Promote Gender Equality met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for Implementation of the Action Programme to Promote Gender Equality met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee of experts on the transit of natural gas through grids met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee of experts on the transit of natural gas through grids met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Canada Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and there these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Canada Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and there these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the multiannual community programme to stimulate development and use of European digital content on the global networks and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the multiannual community programme to stimulate development and use of European digital content on the global networks and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Republic of South Africa Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and there these meetings took place; what UK Government expert...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Republic of South Africa Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and there these meetings took place; what UK Government expert...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for implementation of multiannual framework programme for actions in the reinforcement of international cooperation (Synergy) met; when and where these meetings took...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for implementation of multiannual framework programme for actions in the reinforcement of international cooperation (Synergy) met; when and where these meetings took...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on European Communities planned actions in the field of egality, with particular reference to projects arising from COM (2004) 352.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on European Communities planned actions in the field of egality, with particular reference to projects arising from COM (2004) 352.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the status is of the EU software patent directive; if she will make it her policy to oppose the directive as it stands; and if she will make a statement. - (Holding answer 31 January 2005).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the status is of the EU software patent directive; if she will make it her policy to oppose the directive as it stands; and if she will make a statement. - (Holding answer 31 January 2005).