EU: UK Membership

My Lords, I understand what the noble Baroness is saying, but I am well within my rights to ask a question that I asked in debate to which the Minister has not replied, and which is very important. Is there anything in the European treaties which requires the current pre-summit negotiations, and indeed the whole process of EU law-making, to be held in secret with the House of Commons and your Lordships’ House excluded and powerless? That is a perfectly fair question. The House of Commons has been refused an answer by the Government. Is that within the treaties, or is it just for the cosy convenience of the Euro-crats in Brussels?