HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 cc46-8W
Mr. Quentin Davies

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what common policies and actions have been agreed between the British and Irish Governments and representatives of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as a result of meetings of the British/Irish Council since 1 December 1999; and what progress has been made in implementing them. [46141]

The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

The British-Irish Council will exchange information, discuss, consult and use best endeavours to reach agreement on cooperation on matters of mutual interest within the competence of the relevant Administrations.

At its first summit on 17 December 1999 the British-Irish Council identified the following areas for early discussion: drugs, the environment, transport, social inclusion, the knowledge economy, tele-medicine and tourism. Work is on-going in all sectoral areas.

In the environment sector for example, in which the UK Government take the lead, work has been taken forward on the impacts of climate change. In particular, new scenarios of climate change are planned that will be tailored to meet the particular needs of some British-Irish Council administrations.

In the drugs sector, work to date has focused on the exchange of information, sharing of best practice and identifying suitable areas for practical co-operation.

I have placed in the Libraries of the House copies of the communiqués from the two most recent ministerial meetings on the environment and drugs.

Mr. Quentin Davies

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many sectoral meetings of the British/Irish Council have taken place since 1 December 1999; and what plans there are for further such meetings. [46143]

The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

The following British-Irish Council sectoral meetings have taken place at ministerial level since 1 December 1999

  • 2 October 2000—ministerial meeting on the environment, London
  • 19 December 2000—ministerial meeting on transport, Belfast
  • 25 February 2002—ministerial meeting on the environment, Edinburgh
  • 22 March 2002—ministerial meeting on drugs, Dublin.

There have also been meetings of officials on the following occasions since 1 December 1999:

  • 6 October 2000—officials meeting on drugs, Dublin
  • 16 November 2000—officials meeting on social inclusion, London
  • 16 November 2000—officials meeting on the knowledge economy, London
  • 4 December 2000—officials meeting on transport, Belfast
  • 23 January 2001—officials meeting on the environment, London
  • 28–29 March 2001—officials meeting on the environment, Oxford
  • 29 March 2001—officials meeting on the knowledge economy, Jersey
  • 13 September 2001—officials meeting on drugs, Dublin
    • 48W
  • 25 January 2002—officials meeting on drugs, Dublin
  • 4 February 2002—officials meeting on social inclusion, London
  • 5 February 2002—officials meeting on the knowledge economy, London
  • 7 February 2002—officials meeting on the environment, London
  • 26 February 2002—officials meeting on tele-medicine, Isle of Man
  • 1 March 2002—officials meeting on tourism, Guernsey
  • 6 March 2002—officials meeting on drugs, Dublin.

Further meetings will take place at ministerial and official level as appropriate. These are likely to include a ministerial meeting on the environment in the autumn and a ministerial meeting on drugs in early 2003.

Mr. Quentin Davies

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many meetings of the British/Irish Council have taken place at summit level since 1 December 1999; and what plans there are for further meetings at summit level. [46142]

The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

There have been two British-lrish Council summit meetings since 1 December. Further summit meetings are planned in June 2002 in Jersey where the main topic of discussion will be the knowledge economy, autumn 2002 in Scotland and early 2003 in Northern Ireland.