§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the mandate of the Tempus Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament: and if she will make a statement. [56718]
§ Margaret HodgeThe purpose and responsibilities of the Tempus Committee are set out in Council Decision 1999/311/EC of 29 April 1999, which established the third phase of the Tempus programme (Tempus III). The Committee has met twice over the last 12 months. Two officials from the UK attend the Committee meetings. Travel costs for one official are met from Commission resources for the programme. Travel costs for the second1060W official and subsistence costs for both officials, incurred by this Department and the Department for Work and Pensions, are in the region of £1,420 per annum. The Committee is currently considering implications for the programme guide for applicants of the Commission's proposal to extend the programme to countries of the MEDA region.
Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of such committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com(2001)783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every such committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the mandate of the Co-ordination Group to promote uniformity of application of the general system for the recognition of higher education diplomas (first general system) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56754]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
The mandate for this Group is set out in Article 9 (2) of Directive 89/48 EEC as follows:
- A co-ordinating group shall be set up under the aegis of the Commission, composed of the co-ordinators appointed by each Member State or their deputies and chaired by a representative of the Commission. The task of this group shall be
- to facilitate the implementation of this Directive,
- to collect all useful information for its application in Member States.
- The group may be consulted by the Commission on any changes to the existing system that may be contemplated.
The group meets twice yearly and the UK is represented by a DTI official. It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the Committee without incurring disproportionate cost.
The main issues/topics considered at the last meeting were:
- Proposed legislative reforms of the system of recognition of professional qualifications;
- State of accession negotiations;
- Information points from the Education and Culture DG;
- Mobilisation of experts in the context of enlargement;
- Notification of the measures transposing Directive 99/42.
Steps are being taken to increase the accountability and transparency of comitology committees in general. Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council 1061W Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Com(2001)783 Final).
As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.