asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held recently with his opposite numbers in the EEC Council of Ministers on the various forms and systems of direct European Parliament elections in the member States which have been proposed.

This is not a matter for the Council of Ministers. As Article 7(2) of the Direct Elections Agreement makes clear, pending the entry into force of a uniform electoral procedure the system to be adopted is a matter for each member State to decide.