Scrutiny in the House of Commons

Letter from William Hague to the Chairman (ESI 25)

Thank you for your letter of 10 October, about the UK Permanent Represe n t ative to the EU. I agree this is certainly a very important role, but the Permanent Representative is an official who acts in line with policies that have been agreed by Ministers and does not have quasi-legislative powers. The UK Permanent Representative does not make rules and regulations, it is Ministers who agree proposals and legisla t ion at a Council of M i n · ister s . The constitutional distinction the r e fore that officials follow ministerial mandates, and it is Ministers who are accountable to Parliament for their officials, should be maintained.

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October 2013