asked Her Majesty's Government:

What subjects were on the agenda at the G6 Interior Ministers' meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon on 25 and 26 October; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of any papers which were discussed.

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is currently chairing the meeting of G6 Interior Ministers, which he opened yesterday. He plans to discuss a range of issues relating to counterterrorism, organised crime and migration. The meeting will close at lunchtime today with a press conference. The conclusions of the meeting will be published on the Home Office website and placed in the Library of the House.

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. She will be familiar with the document in my hand, which is described as,

"Behind Closed Doors ... at Heiligendamm".

It sounds like a thriller. In fact it is our European Union Committee report on the so-called G6 meeting there. First, is the Home Office fully alive to the strictures in the report about a lack of accountability and transparency? Secondly, will she say something about the linked and very sharp criticism made of the impact of G6 decisions on smaller European Union countries that is encapsulated in the phrase:

"The G6 should recognise that they are not the Europe des Six", which I suppose is Franglais?

My Lords, first, I reassure the noble Lord that we are very alive to the strictures in the report. Secondly, there is no suggestion whatever that the G6 group is the major driver of the European movement. It is an informal group that meets to discuss matters of real interest that are openly shared with all members of the Union. The conclusions are shared also. I should make it clear that it is not a decision-making body; it is an opportunity for those six member states to discuss from time to time openly and transparently matters of mutual interest and concern.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the conclusions reached at these meetings influence the work of the Commission? Is it right, therefore, that small groups should have such an influence on the whole of the EU, now of 25 members? Perhaps I should say that I sat on that committee and obviously contributed to the report.

My Lords, the issues that the G6 group is debating concern the whole of Europe. There is no direct correlation with the subjects discussed in those meetings and consequent changes made by the Commission. We genuinely think that it is an initiative that has been welcomed by all. It helps to raise issues. Those issues are taken to the whole of the Council, and all member states have an equal part in any final determination or shape that emerges from those discussions.

My Lords, I also declare an interest as a member of the committee to which the noble Viscount referred. At the meeting in Stratford, will any proposals be made on the important subjects of counterterrorism, organised crime and migration? The account in the Guardian this morning says that carousel fraud is also being discussed. Will proposals be put to the G6 meeting at Stratford that could result in decisions by European Union bodies? If so, does the noble Baroness agree that there has to be proper consultation with the other 19 states, otherwise such meetings could turn into a harmful device for the Union of Europe as a whole because the other 19 will feel excluded from that process?

My Lords, I need to make it absolutely clear, if I have not already done so, that the discussions do not involve formal proposals. They are a vehicle through which discussion can take place. Issues of concern for the whole of Europe may be identified. If they are, they will be brought before all member states so that they can be considered and decisions can be taken. No power is vested in this informal group meeting, so no additional importance is to be given to it over and above that given to the diverse informal meetings between different groups of member states from time to time. The noble Lord will know, as will the House, that there are several informal groupings of member states, and healthy bilateral relations continue.