§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to his answer of 15 May 2000,Official Report, column 30W, on EU working groups, if he will make it his policy to ensure the maximum transparency for (a) draft documents without negotiating position commentary and (b) issues under discussion at European Union working group level. [123631]
§ Mr. VazWe will ensure that all documents being prepared in European Union working groups for decision by the Council will be submitted to Parliament in accordance with the established procedures for Parliamentary scrutiny.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Community documents were examined by EU working groups in the last 12 months; and, of these, how many were advanced as draft legislation. [123610]
§ Mr. VazThere is no comprehensive record of European Community documents examined in 1999. However, there were 43 pieces of legislation enacted by the Council and European Parliament in 1999. In addition, 284 legislative instruments were adopted by the Council, and 1,413 by the Commission. Draft versions of all of these will have been discussed either by Council working groups or Comitology committees.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on democratic accountability within European Community working groups. [123609]
§ Mr. VazWorking groups are attended by national civil servants, who work within policies established by Government Ministers, who are themselves directly and democratically accountable.