§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the address of the centre for information, discussion and exchange on asylum and the name of its director.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe centre has no permanent address or director. Its meetings are chaired by the country currently holding the presidency of the European Union and serviced by the general secretariat of the Council.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations have taken place between institutions operating on the basis of the second pillar of the Maastricht treaty, on foreign and security policy and those of the third pillar, on justice and home affairs matters, on matters which relate to immigration and asylum policy.
§ Mr. Charles WardleIt has been agreed that joint reports will be prepared under the auspices of the common foreign and security policy on the situation in third countries. These will be made available to member states via the clearing house for information, discussion and exchange on asylum set up under the third pillar.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given to matters concerning immigration and asylum policy at the meeting of the Justice Council which took place in Brussels at the beginning of December.
§ Mr. Charles WardleIf the hon. Member is referring to the meeting of the Interior and Justice Council on 29 and 30 November, I would refer him to the reply I gave to him on 7 December, columns165-66.