§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the European Community's SAFE programme; and what position he intends to adopt on it at the Council of Ministers meeting on 25 February. [13917]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Government supports the general aims of the SAFE programme, but there are a number of detailed budgetary and procedural issues relating to the Commission's amended proposal which have yet to be resolved. The SAFE programme is not on the agenda for adoption at a Council of Ministers meeting on 25 February. It is not clear whether it will appear on the agenda for the Labour and Social Affairs Council meetings on 17 April or 12 June.