§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those paragraphs of Articles 1,2 and 3 of the Treaty of Amsterdam which relate to aspects of judicial proceedings in the United Kingdom and in each case the person, persons, or bodies who will be responsible for their implementation in the United Kingdom; and what consultation Her Majesty's Government had with them prior to 14 June 1997. [33210]
§ Mr. HoonThe relevant provisions are to be found in:
- (a) Paragraph 11 of Article 1 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, in particular new Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, which relates to judicial co-operation in criminal matters; and
- (b) Paragraph 15 of Article 2, in particular new Article 73(m) of the EC Treaty, which relates to civil judicial co-operation and which is subject to the Protocol excluding the United Kingdom from the operation of measures in that field unless the United Kingdom indicates that it wishes to take part in any such measure.
The Government themselves are responsible for the implementation of these provisions in the United Kingdom.