asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each year since 1994, how many times the Ioannina compromise has been invoked in decisions of the European Union Council of Ministers; and on how many such occasions the United Kingdom Government was (a) in the majority, and (b) in the minority. [HL1467]

We have identified two occasions on which the Ioannina compromise has been invoked in the council:

at the Agriculture Council on 24 and 25 October 1995, on the issue of national aids to farmers—on that occasion, the UK, Sweden and Italy were in the minority; and

at the Telecommunications Council on 18 December 1996, on the issue of postal liberalisation—on that occasion, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Denmark were in the minority.

The Ioannina compromise has also been used in informal negotiations on other occasions but, since the results of these negotiations are not recorded in the formal council record, it is not possible to provide figures.