European and External Relations Committee, 19 Dec 2006

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Official Report 269KB pdf

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Pre and Post-Council Scrutiny

Agenda item 5 is pre and post-council scrutiny. Do members have any comments on the paper for this item?

Thank you very much for prompting me, convener.

I have a comment on page 5, which is on the draft budget for 2007. The issue is not really for the Scottish Parliament, but I recall that when that budget was set the Prime Minister agreed to budget payments that were dependent on further renegotiation on the common agricultural policy. I see no mention of that in the paper, although I am sure that that is not a mistake.

Is that just a comment that you want to put on the record?

I want to put on the record the fact that what was promised has failed to materialise. Once again, we have paid more than we should have done: money has gone into the great black hole of Europe and promises have not been fulfilled.

Mr Gallie cannot have read this week's Open Europe press summary, in which the Financial Times is reported as saying that Mr Cameron went to Brussels to take on the Commission on common agricultural policy, but came away backing

"the ‘Europe of results' approach of José Barroso."

We all have problems.

She has been waiting the whole meeting to tell you that, Phil.

I will not compromise my position. I was talking about the Prime Minister and the pledges that he made, which are as yet unfulfilled.

That is not like the Prime Minister.

I am tempted to remind Mr Gallie that the Conservatives took us into the common agricultural policy.

That was under Ted Heath. I take no responsibility for the things that he did.

Or Mr Cameron?

The discussion is now ended, children.

There has been no mention as yet of Margaret Thatcher and the single market.

Mr Wallace, we do not need you stirring things up.