§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee on the approximation of the laws, regulation and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70602]
§ Ms BlearsUnder European Union Directive 2001/37/EC on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, provision is made for a committee to be set up to assist the European Commission in developing and updating the provisions of the Directive. The committee is currently in the process of being set up and its first meeting is anticipated to take place before the end of this year. The United Kingdom will be represented by one independent expert, who is not an official of either the UK Government or the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee on the Community action programme on injury prevention is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70598]
1433W
§ Ms BlearsThis Committee last met on 18 December 2001, when it was formally disbanded, there are no plans for this committee to meet again.
The Department has lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this committee. They consult the Devolved Administrations to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new European Union public health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the current committee which will cease to function under the new programme.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Decision to set up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70596]
§ Ms BlearsThe next meeting is due to be held on 7/8 October. The director of the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) attended for the UK surveillance unit on one occasion.
The Scottish Executive is represented by the Department.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health monitoring in the framework of the action plan for public health is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70600]
§ Ms BlearsThere are no plans for this committee to meet again.
The Department and the Office for National Statistics have had lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this committee. They consult the devolved authorities to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new European Union public health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the current committee which will cease to function under the new programme.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70599]
§ Ms BlearsWe understand there are no plans for this Committee to meet again. The Department has had lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this Committee. The Devolved Administrations have been consulted to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
1434WFollowing the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new EU Public Health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the Committee which will cease to function under the new programme.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme for the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70597]
§ Ms BlearsThe date of the next meeting has not been set. There are no Scottish executive members. The Scottish Executive is represented by the Department.