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Concern over 'lack' of EU debate Concern over 'lack' of EU debate
(about 14 hours later)
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has been criticised for not giving evidence to an influential group of MPs about the government's Europe policy.Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has been criticised for not giving evidence to an influential group of MPs about the government's Europe policy.
The foreign affairs committee said her reluctance to attend a session ahead of an EU summit, was "a failure of accountability to Parliament".The foreign affairs committee said her reluctance to attend a session ahead of an EU summit, was "a failure of accountability to Parliament".
Minister Geoff Hoon was criticised for being difficult when planning a date.Minister Geoff Hoon was criticised for being difficult when planning a date.
A spokeswoman for Mrs Beckett said she took accountability to Parliament very seriously and always kept it informed.A spokeswoman for Mrs Beckett said she took accountability to Parliament very seriously and always kept it informed.
She has said she would appear a few days before the summit which starts on 21 June, but committee chairman Mike Gapes objected to the timing.
"By then senior officials in the Foreign Office and Number 10 will have been involved in months of discussions with their counterparts in other European countries," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"There are controversial issues here - in the past there has been a commitment to a referendum, if we are now moving away from a referendum and we are having parliamentary decisions on these processes, then Parliament itself has to be fully engaged in the discussion and the development of the policy."
'Deep concern''Deep concern'
Committee chairman Mike Gapes expressed "deep concern" that MPs had not had a chance to question ministers. He wrote to Mrs Beckett on behalf of the committee expressing "deep concern" that MPs had not had a chance to question ministers.
The summit will consider attempts by Germany to revive the EU constitution, vetoed by the French and Dutch in referendums two years ago.The summit will consider attempts by Germany to revive the EU constitution, vetoed by the French and Dutch in referendums two years ago.
Geoff Hoon has always been very happy and remains happy to appear before the committee to discuss the EU constitutional treaty Geoff Hoon's officeGeoff Hoon has always been very happy and remains happy to appear before the committee to discuss the EU constitutional treaty Geoff Hoon's office
In a letter to Mrs Beckett, Mr Gapes said: "The committee regards the refusal of the [Foreign Office] to provide a minister to give oral evidence during this crucial phase of the discussions on the future of Europe as a failure of accountability to Parliament." In the letter Mr Gapes said: "The committee regards the refusal of the [Foreign Office] to provide a minister to give oral evidence during this crucial phase of the discussions on the future of Europe as a failure of accountability to Parliament."
He said he had been asking for her or Europe Minister Geoff Hoon to appear before the committee since February.He said he had been asking for her or Europe Minister Geoff Hoon to appear before the committee since February.
"We have consistently requested an early date for this evidence, so that Parliament could be better informed on the government's approach to the discussions taking place and so that ministers could hear the views of the committee.""We have consistently requested an early date for this evidence, so that Parliament could be better informed on the government's approach to the discussions taking place and so that ministers could hear the views of the committee."
He had "reluctantly" accepted her refusal.He had "reluctantly" accepted her refusal.
'Too late''Too late'
Mr Gapes also said that Mr Hoon had also refused to appear until June which he considered "too late" as the crucial EU summit in Brussels is scheduled for the same month. Mr Gapes also said that Mr Hoon had also refused to appear until June which he considered "too late".
He said Mr Hoon had suggested two dates in May, which were not followed up, and June options were ruled out.He said Mr Hoon had suggested two dates in May, which were not followed up, and June options were ruled out.
"It is the strong view of the committee that an evidence session in June is too late," Mr Gapes wrote."It is the strong view of the committee that an evidence session in June is too late," Mr Gapes wrote.
Our position was that any evidence session would be most useful once the German presidency had set out their timetable for discussions leading up to the European Council Foreign Secretary's spokeswomanOur position was that any evidence session would be most useful once the German presidency had set out their timetable for discussions leading up to the European Council Foreign Secretary's spokeswoman
"By then, decisions concerning the approach to be followed by government ministers and officials will effectively have been taken and the opportunity for Parliament to influence the debate will have passed."
A spokeswoman for Mrs Beckett said she and her ministerial term took their responsibilities to Parliament and the committee "very seriously".A spokeswoman for Mrs Beckett said she and her ministerial term took their responsibilities to Parliament and the committee "very seriously".
"Our position was that any evidence session would be most useful once the German presidency had set out their timetable for discussions leading up to the European Council and once the government had drawn up a set of policy options in response," she said."Our position was that any evidence session would be most useful once the German presidency had set out their timetable for discussions leading up to the European Council and once the government had drawn up a set of policy options in response," she said.
"Ministers continue to keep Parliament informed both through written questions and through monthly foreign office oral questions.""Ministers continue to keep Parliament informed both through written questions and through monthly foreign office oral questions."
And a source close to Mr Hoon said he was "bending over backwards" to accommodate the committee, and had offered to appear during the weeks beginning 28 May and 4 June, as well as on either 13 June and 18 June.And a source close to Mr Hoon said he was "bending over backwards" to accommodate the committee, and had offered to appear during the weeks beginning 28 May and 4 June, as well as on either 13 June and 18 June.
"Geoff Hoon has always been very happy and remains happy to appear before the committee to discuss the EU constitutional treaty.""Geoff Hoon has always been very happy and remains happy to appear before the committee to discuss the EU constitutional treaty."