§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the committee on application of the legislation on application of tonnage measurement of ballast spaces in segregated ballast of oil tankers 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [56834]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe committee was set up under Article 7 of regulation (EC) 2978/94/EC on the implementation of IMO resolution A.747(18) on the application of tonnage measurements of segregated ballast tanks in oil tankers. The committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission with a remit to assist the European Commission with the application of the regulation. My Department is not aware of any committee meetings in the past 12 months and has incurred no travel or subsistence costs in relation to it.
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 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 the House on 26 February (Corn (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 comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Implementation Committee on minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods 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 121W work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [56835]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Minimum Requirements for Vessels Bound for or leaving Community Ports and Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods Committee was established under Article 12 of Council directive 93/75/EEC. The committee is composed of representatives of the member states and is chaired by a representative of the Commission. The remit of the Committee is to consider amendments to the Council directive and vote on them accordingly. This committee has not met in the last 12 months and therefore there has been no cost to the public funds.
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 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 (Corn (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 comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Committee for the establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55679]
§ Mr. JamiesonA regulatory committee, comprised of member states' representatives and chaired by the Commission, was set up under Article 21 of Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system. The remit of the Committee has now been extended to include conventional rail in accordance with Directive 2001/16/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system. The "Article 21 Committee" approves technical specifications for interoperability-TSIs—and considers various issues arising from the implementation of interoperability (including the cost-benefit analysis to support the draft TSIs and applications to the Commission for derogations from the TSIs).
The Committee has met four times over the last 12 months—there have also been a number of subordinate working group meetings. The UK is now represented by the Strategic Rail Authority, although officials from DTLR and 1-IM Inspectorate of Railways have also attended. Over the last 12 months, the cost of the main committee's work to public funds has been approximately £7,000.
122WThe Article 21 Committee is currently completing the formal adoption of TSIs for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system and establishing ground-rules for the preparation of TSIs for the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system.
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 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 (Commission Document 5685–02). 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.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the development of the community railways 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55682]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Developing European Railways Committee was established under the provisions of Directive 2001/12/EC. The Committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission. The remit of the Committee is to facilitate the implementation of Directives 2001/12/EC, 2001/13/EC and 2001/14/EC, commonly referred to as the 'Railway Infrastructure Package Directives'. The Committee has met twice in the last 12 months. The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the Office of the Rail Regulator. The annual cost of its work to public funds is about £2,500.
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 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.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road passenger transport services within a member state 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; 123W if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55685]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Advisory Committee is established under the provisions of Article 10 of the road passenger transport cabotage regulation (Council Regulation (EC) 12–98). The Committee is composed of representatives of the member states and chaired by the European Commission. The remit of the Committee is to advise the Commission on measures intended to resolve a serious disturbance of the internal transport market due to cabotage. As no member state has ever reported such a disturbance to the Commission, the Committee has not been convened.
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 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.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on measures to be taken in the event of a crisis in the market in the carriage of goods by road and for laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road haulage services within a member state 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55686]
124W
NDPB Code of practice Availability Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate Does not yet have a code of practice Audit Commission The Code of Conduct for Commissioners, which is part of The Commissioners' Handbook. By appointment at the Audit Commission, 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN Building Regulations Advisory Committee Members' handbook and register of interests By appointment at Zone 3/C2, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU Commission for Integrated Transport Uses the Cabinet Office's standard code of practice The register of interests is published in CflT's annual report and is available on request. Community Forum This body was established in January 2002, the code of conduct has not yet been finalised. A register of members' interests will be included in the annual report. When agreed it will be published on the Community Forum website www.neighbourhood.gov.uk or available from the Community Forum Secretariat, Zone 3/A5, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU. Civil Aviation Authority Although the CAA has no formal register of interests, under Paragraph 10, schedule 1 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, board members are obliged to disclose their interests, and provide this information when requested. The Secretary of State must satisfy himself that members have no prejudicial interests. Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Code of practice for members in existence. Register of interests being developed. Available on request English Partnerships Code of practice www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/pdf/codesofpractice.pdf
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Advisory Committee is established under the provisions of Article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3118–93 and Article 5 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3916–90. The Committee is composed of representatives of member states and chaired by the Commission. The remit of the Committee is to advise the Commission on measures proposed to deal with a serious disturbance of the national transport market due to either international haulage or cabotage. As no member state has ever reported such a disturbance to the Commission, the Committee has not been convened.
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 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 the House on 26 February (Corn (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.