§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will arrange for European(a) Commission and (b) Parliament documents, due to be discussed by Ministerial Council meetings during the United Kingdom presidency, which have environmental implications, to be placed in the Library 10 working days before the appropriate Ministerial Council meeting. [33974]
§ Angela EagleIn accordance with House of Commons Standing Order 143 which governs the operation of the Select Committee on European Legislation, a range of European Community documents is deposited in Parliament for consideration by that committee. This includes European Commission proposals for Council legislation and other policy documents, such as Commission communications, reports and consultation papers submitted to the Council of Ministers. These are available from the Vote Office and the Library of the House; and the vast majority are deposited at least 10 working days before they are considered by the Council of Ministers. The Government provide an explanatory memorandum on all these documents, commenting on the policy implications including environmental implications.