asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EEC intergovernmental conference on amendments to the treaty of Rome.

The first session of the conference was held on 9 September. A further ministerial meeting is taking place today. There have been regular meetings of senior officials in a preparatory group to discuss possible amendments to the treaty, covering in particular those measures necessary to complete the common market; the role of the European Parliament; and whether to update the treaty to include specific reference to the activities of the Research and Environment Councils.