HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc992-3W
Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998,Official Report, column 277, what proportion of European Community legislative acts which do not pass before the Council of Ministers do not fall into the category of detailed market management measures; and if he will list the categories they fall into. [55389]

Ms Quin

The majority of Commission legislation is made under specific implementing powers delegated to the Commission by the Council. In certain circumstances, proposed implementing measures can be referred back to the Council. The majority of Commission implementing legislation is concerned with detailed market management measures, in particularly in implementing the Common Agricultural Policy. Implementing measures which do not fall into the category of detailed market management measures cover a broad range of policies. Policy areas covered by implementing legislation are listed in the General Budget of the European Union (pp.500–517 of the 1998 Budget). This is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (No. L44, 16 February 1998).

Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998,Official Report, columns 277– 78, on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 a Minister of his Department has intervened in the negotiations on Community legislative Acts being agreed outside of the Council of Ministers before that Act received final ministerial approval; on what proportion of occasions a Minister has rejected an agreement reached in this manner when presented with the final agreement; and what form of scrutiny by Ministers takes place during the course of the negotiations. [55398]

Ms Quin

Most Commission implementing measures are introduced under specific powers delegated by the Council of Ministers under primary legislation. Much of this legislation is of a technical and routine nature and does not involve Ministerial consideration.