HL Deb 24 June 1996 vol 573 cc46-7WA
Baroness Rawlings

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the Culture Council on 11th June, and what was on the list of "A" points.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)

The Culture/Audiovisual Council on 11th June, which I attended, made significant progress in a number of areas, with the UK's interests defended in all the agreements which were reached.

The council achieved a common position on the revision of the 1989 Broadcasting Directive ("Television Without Frontiers"), and in so doing, secured all the key UK objectives-retention of the existing quota arrangements, clearer jurisdiction criteria, and updating of provisions on advertising, teleshopping and self-promotional channels. Common positions were also achieved on amendments to Regulations 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods and Directive 93/7/EEC on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a member state, so that these instruments now apply to watercolours, pastels and gouaches valued at 30,000 ecu or more. Agreement on these items was in line with UK objectives and was reached by Qualified Majority Voting.

The council also reached agreement on the substance of the Ariane programme on books and reading, the Raphael programme in the field of cultural heritage, a resolution on access to culture, and a resolution on electronic publishing and libraries. However I blocked adoption of these items in accordance with the policy announced by the Prime Minister on 21st May in another place in response to the "BSE crisis".

Three "A" points were considered. An agreement to allow Andorra to enter goods into free circulation on its own behalf instead of through member states of the EC, and a procedural item relating to a proposed regulation concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients were approved. In accordance with the policy to which I have referred, I blocked the adoption of a council resolution on industrial co-operation with other regional areas and third countries which was subject to unanimity decision.