Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 12 July 2007.

EU: Parliament

Question: My Lords, it has been suggested that the system is far from ideal and frightfully foolish. As somebody who like myself lives in the Pennines, would not the noble Lord say that it is just daft—and that is not using the adjective I would normally use outside your Lordships’ House? Is not the answer in the hands of members of the European Parliament? I have seen what happens. They do not just move themselves and their staff, but huge crates of baggage, files and all sorts of things go every month. Is not the answer that those members of the European Parliament who think this is stupid just refuse to go? That would cause the whole thing to collapse.

Answer: My Lords, direct action of that kind is scarcely in keeping with the responsibility that elected representatives have to their electorates.

Secondary information