Scottish Secretary And European Council Meetings

EDM number 1505 in 1994-95, proposed by Alex Salmond on 24/10/1995.

That this House notes the claim to the Scottish Grand Committee by the Scottish Secretary that he would be representing Scotland at the European Fisheries Council; further notes the revelation by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that he and not the Scottish Secretary would be leading the delegation; is concerned for the status of the Scottish Secretary that he should be humiliated by having to play second fiddle to a junior English colleague; suggests that the Scottish Secretary should attend future Commons fisheries debates rather than Tory party functions in Angus so that he can better familiarise himself with the particular concerns of Scottish fishermen even if he is able to do little about them; further notes that Scottish Office Ministers have attended only 10 out of more than 125 meetings of the Council of Ministers since April 1994 and that Scotland's current politically peripheral status in Europe presents a powerful argument for independence and equality of status in Europe.

This motion has been signed by a total of 2 MPs.