§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each(a) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (b) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (c) the relevant section of that treaty and the consolidated treaties of the European Union and European Community. [80417]
§ Mr. MealeThe Treaty of Amsterdam will have minimal impact on the responsibilities of the Department and its staffing. As far as the EU Institutions are concerned, there will be an increased role for the European Parliament in some of the areas covered by the Department due to the extension by the Treaty of the co-decision procedure to much of the EU legislation in the transport and environmental fields.