§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2001,Official Report, column 84–85W, if she will list (a) the areas in which the Justice and Home Affairs Council is examining the scope for SIS II to have an increased range of functions and (b) the authorities being considered eligible for access to SIS data. [28321]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 22 January 2002]: This work is at a very early stage. Officials in the relevant council working group are examining the possible future requirements for SIS II and proposals will be submitted to the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council at key stages in the process. A first discussion of this work was held by the Mixed Committee with Norway and Iceland, meeting at ministerial level in the margins of the JHA Council on 6–7 December 2001 and reported to the House in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 89W. The authorities which 1094W would be considered eligible for access to SIS data will be determined according to the purpose for which it is agreed that data will be stored. This work will require amendment to the Schengen acquis and will thus be the subject of formal decisions at European Union level; these will be subject to United Kingdom parliamentary scrutiny in the normal way.