To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority; [117209](2) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting; [117230](3) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year; [117242](4) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention. [117257]

On no occasion in the period in question has a measure in the area of responsibility of the former Lord Chancellor's Department been adopted against the wishes of the United Kingdom delegation, nor has it been necessary to participate in a blocking minority in the Council of Ministers.