HC Deb 20 October 1998 vol 317 cc1077-8W
Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998,Official Report, columns 277–78, how many Community legislative acts for 1997 (a) were and (b) were not delegated to committees of member state representatives. [55397]

Ms Quin

Most Commission legislation is made under implementing powers delegated to the Commission by the Council. The Commission is normally assisted in enacting implementing measures by committees made up of Member State and Commission representatives. The Commission Annual Report for 1997 lists the Commission as having enacted 1,430 regulations, directives and decisions over the year, the Council, either alone or acting jointly with the European Parliament, having enacted 407. However, in contrast to previous years, these figures exclude instruments not published in theOfficial Journal and routine management instruments valid for a limited period.

Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998,Official Report, columns 277–78, what estimate he has made of the proportion and quantity of European Community legislation that neither passes before the Council of Ministers nor is discussed in Parliament; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on this procedure. [55395]

Ms Quin

The Commission makes legislation under powers which are delegated in specific cases under primary legislation approved by the Council of Ministers. Proposals for such measures may in some cases be referred to the Council of Ministers. In addition to implementing legislation, the Commission is also given specific legislative powers under Articles 48.3.d and 90.3 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

The Commission's Annual Report gives totals of 7,068 Commission regulations, directives and decisions for 1993 and 6,732 Commission regulations, directives and decisions for 1994. The 1995 Report gives no figures. In these years, Commission legislation made up over 90% of total Community legislation.

Proposals for Commission implementing measures are not currently subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. However, the House of Commons Modernisation Committee propose changing the terms of reference of the European Legislation Committee to include such legislation. The Government support this. Because of the volume and nature of this legislation, it is proposed that the Committee scrutinise these measures 2–3 times per year for trends.