asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for arranging direct elections to the European Parliament by 1978.

I have been asked to reply.The Government's position remains as stated in the communiqué issued by Heads of Government after their 9th-10th December meeting (Cmnd. 5830). We shall not take up a position on this proposal before the process of renegotiation has been completed and the results have been submitted to the British people.