HL Deb 07 December 1995 vol 567 cc1090-2

6.00 p.m.

Lord Henley rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 15th November be approved [1st Report from the Joint Committee].

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move that the draft order designating the new convention defining the statute of the European Schools as a Community Treaty under Section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, and laid before this House on 15th November, be approved.

I will briefly explain, first, the convention to which the order applies and then the effect of the order itself. The convention defines a new statute—a set of administrative regulations—for the European schools, as agreed by the European Community member states and the European communities in Luxembourg in June 1994. It replaces the original statute of 1957; an inter-governmental agreement to which the UK acceded in 1972. There are nine European schools in six EC member states, including one in the UK, in Oxfordshire. They provide education for the children of employees of EC institutions and are jointly financed by the EC member states and the Commission itself.

The new statute, as described in the convention, introduces much needed measures to increase the administrative efficiency of the schools. The UK Government have supported the need for such reform for many years, as a means of easing the decision-making progress for routine administrative issues by ending the blanket requirement for unanimity in the governing body. Decisions on policy issues of substance will still require unanimous agreement. The new statute will also encourage the decentralisation of power and authority away from the centre by awarding more financial autonomy to individual schools. It is intended that this will further encourage the more efficient use of resources within the schools, based on local decisions. Finally, the new statute will provide teachers and parents with a more active role in the administration of the schools, through representation on the board of governors.

Having been signed by member states and the European Commission, the convention defining this new statute must now be ratified by each signatory. The debate today forms part of the final stage in this process of ratification by the UK. The convention has already undergone the usual scrutiny procedures, having been laid before both Houses in December last year for the requisite period of 21 days. The order before the House, which was discussed yesterday in Standing Committee in another place, will define the convention as a Community treaty and thus enable the United Kingdom to meet its financial obligations under the new statute. The nature and volume of expenditure under the new statute will be similar to existing expenditure under the current statute of the European schools.

It is clear, therefore, that there is nothing in the order, or the convention to which it applies, at which anyone, even some of the noble friends of the noble Lord, Lord Morris of Castle Morris, who sometimes sit behind him, could take offence. Indeed, the new administrative regulations defined by the convention are to be welcomed in the interests of the efficient deployment of United Kingdom resources in Europe. I urge the House to support the Motion and approve this order. I commend the order to the House.

Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 15th November be approved [1st Report from the Joint Committed]—(Lord Henley.)

Lord Morris of Castle Morris

My Lords, I am most obliged to the Minister for explaining this small but quite complex piece of bureaucratic necessity or necessary bureaucracy. It was, as he said, carefully considered yesterday by the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, who agreed to it, surprisingly, by nine votes to one, after surprisingly little discussion. It is an uncontroversial measure; we are all committed to excellence and diversity in education and the European schools are a special form of it. This order will increase the administrative efficiency of the schools and our own school at Culham in Oxfordshire will benefit from it. We fully support the order.

Lord Henley

My Lords, I am most grateful for the noble Lord's warm welcome of the order. I certainly look forward to it being passed by this House without even the one dissenting voice in another place to which the noble Lord referred.

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at five minutes past six o'clock.