§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the membership and terms of reference of all ministerial committees dealing with European policy. [81432]
§ The Prime MinisterThe principal Committee for considering questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union is the Ministerial Sub-Committee on European Issues E(DOP). The Committee is chaired by the Foreign Secretary and reports to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy, which I chair. The composition and terms of reference of E(DOP) were last amended on 19 February 1999 and are as shown. The composition and terms of reference of DOP have not changed since I published an updated list of Cabinet Ministerial Committees on 21 October 1998,Official Report, columns 1123–35. European Union matters will be considered by other Committees from time to time.
Ministerial Sub-Committee on European Issues ((E)DOP)
Composition
- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chair)
- Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
- Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Secretary of State for the Home Department
- Secretary of State for Education and Employment
- President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
- Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Secretary of State for Scotland
- Secretary of State for Defence
- Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Secretary of State for Wales
- Secretary of State for International Development
- Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women
- Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
- Attorney-General
- Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe
- Other Ministers will be invited to attend, as the nature of the business requires.
- The United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the European Union is also in attendance.
Terms of Reference are:
To con sider questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy".