Research Council (Hansard, 18 April 2002)

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 18 March 2002,Official Report, column 86W, on the Research Council, what the Government's policy was on the Commission's proposal to amend the negotiating mandate on the legal aspects of a possible International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, in order to include possible site offers for ITER in Europe and cost sharing provisions. [50995]

§ Ms Hewitt
The Government support the Commission's proposal which is still under discussion by the council's research group.

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 18 March 2002,Official Report, column 86W, on the Research Council, what the Government's policy was on the Commission's proposal for a negotiating mandate to discuss a framework agreement with the European Space Agency. [50996]

§ Ms Hewitt
The UK has championed the development of closer relations between the European Community and the European Space Agency. The Government encourage the development of a framework agreement which would ensure increasing complementarity between the policies and activities of these two bodies, which have a substantial overlap in their membership.

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 18 March 2002,Official Report, column 86W, on the Research Council, what the Government's policy was on the rules of participation and the specific programmes for the Sixth EU Research Framework Programme 2002–06 and Sixth EURATOM Framework Programme 2002–06. [50997]

§ Ms Hewitt
The Government broadly supported the proposal for the EC 2002–06 Rules of Participation and Dissemination (COM (2001) 822 final) but wanted to see a number of amendments to underpin the principles of scientific excellence, independent peer review and transparency as well as public accountability and simplification of administrative procedures. The Government also wanted to ensure that the rules would 1137W encourage diverse participation, including by small and medium-sized enterprises and the candidate countries and enable member states to have access to policy related research results. In relation to the Euratom Programme rules (COM (2001) 0725 final), debate at Council focused on the Community financial contribution to projects where the UK supported the Commission's proposal for 17.5 per cent. basic support to national programmes.
In relation to the Specific Programmes for the Sixth EU Research Framework Programme (COM 2002 (43) final), discussion centred on comitology. The Government's policy was to argue for a wider remit for the programme committees than that envisaged in the proposals, in order to ensure that member states continue to play an appropriate role in programme management.