§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present, nine meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for May.
The Fisheries Council will meet on 5 May and is likely to discuss annual catch quotas for the North Atlantic Fisheries Organisation; fishing rights in the Svalbard region; fish import policy and EC aid for fisheries control facilities.
The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 11 May. It is expected that the agenda will include the Commission's recent proposals on the future financing of the Community, the reference framework for the 1988 Community budget, and directives on prospectuses to be published when securities are offered to the public and mutual recognition of listing particulars for admission of securities to official stock exchange listing.
The Education Council will meet on 14 May. The agenda is not yet available, but it is likely to include discussion of the ERASMUS student mobility programme.
The Health Council is to meet on 15 May. It will discuss the draft conclusions on appropriate use of medicinal products, implementation of the emergency health card, the Europe against cancer programme and AIDS.
The Agriculture Council will meet on 18/19 May to continue its discussions on the 1987 price-fixing proposals, which will include reviews of the green currency system and the oils and fats regime.
The Development Council will meet on 21 May to discuss public awareness of development issues, the implementation of Lomé 3, action against AIDS, environment and development and preparation for UNCTAD 7.
The Environment Council meets on 21 May. The agenda will include large combustion plants, vehicle emissions and leaded petrol, the export of dangerous chemicals, chlorofluorocarbons, the ACE programme of 197W community action relating to the Environment, and the discharge of dangerous substances in the aquatic environment.
The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 25–26 May. Discussions will cover the future financing of the Community; Community relations with Japan and the United States; progress of the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations; moves towards closer cooperation between the EC and EFTA and relations with Latin America. A meeting of the EC/Tunisia Co-operation Council will also be held in the margins of the Council.
The Labour and Social Affairs Council will meet on 26 May. Ministers are expected to consider a decision on youth training, conclusions on adult training and a communication on protective legislation for women.