HC Deb 06 April 1998 vol 310 c89W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of the working committees operating in the European Commission indicating(a) their terms of reference, (b) the United Kingdom representation on them and (c) to which directorate-general each is responsible. [37569]

Mr. Doug Henderson

A list of the Committees which assist the Commission in the drafting of Community legislation can be found in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 1998 (pp 499–521). This is available in the Library of the House.

The committees are listed by subject area, in some cases giving an indication of the directorates-general with which they are connected. The UK is represented on them by officials or appropriate non-Governmental experts. The terms of reference of these committees vary widely. Some were established under Community legislation, some by the Commission under its own powers.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many proposals for legislation originated from working committees in the European Commission in 1997. [37568]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The Commission itself has the sole right of initiative for making proposals for Community legislation under the Treaty.

Mr. Cash

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each working group of the European Commission. [37771]

Mr. Doug Henderson

A list of the Committees which assist the Commission in the drafting of Community legislation can be found in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 1998 (pp. 499–521). This is available in the Library of the House.