§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the Protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty relating to incorporating the Schengen Acquis into the European Union, on how many occasions and on what matters they have asked to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen Acquis, as envisaged in Article 4 of the Protocol. [HL 4332]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy right honourable friend the Home Secretary wrote to the German Minister of the Interior and Former President of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 20 May with the United Kingdom's formal application to participate in certain areas of the Schengen Acquis, as provided for by Article 4 of the Schengen Protocol. The text of the application was p, aced in the Library. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has since written to the Finnish Minister of the Interior and President of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 9 July and 6 October requesting to take part in additional provisions of the Schengen Acquis in the areas covered by the United Kingdom's application, to which the earlier reply referred. Copies of all letters have been made available to the Parliamentary scrutiny committees. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.