The way in which parliament scrutinises European legislation has come under fire from Sir Digby Jones.

In a pamphlet published by the Foreign Policy Centre, the CBI chief says that major rules are being passed "while barely causing a ripple" among MPs and peers.

Meanwhile in a report published today, the Commons public accounts committee says ministers must press for rapid improvements in the EU's finances if public fears over fraud are to be overcome.

And Tony Blair's hopes of building a broad coalition to back the EU constitution have been dealt a blow after trade unions said that they would not be "railroaded" into supporting it.

The Times reports that leading unions have accused the TUC of trying to engineer support for the treaty by planning a meeting where the only speakers invited were heavily pro-constitution.