HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 cc155-6W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose and (b) activities over the past 12 months of the (i) Horizontal Questions Working Group, (ii) General Affairs Working Group and (iii) Quality of Legislation Working Group, meeting at European Communities level. [91877]

Mr. Kilfoyle

The Horizontal Questions Working Group reports to the Internal Market Council, and deals with cross-cutting issues concerning the internal market. Cabinet Office interest in the Working Group is confined to discussions on better regulation and simplification of legislation at the European level.

The General Affairs Working Group reports primarily to the General Affairs Council (i.e. Foreign Ministers) and deals with a very wide range of general EU internal (co-ordination, institutions, etc.) and external (foreign relations) matters. Cabinet Office interest is via the Civil Service Corporate Management (CSCM) in discussing terms and conditions of employment of European civil servants (i.e. those employed in the Commission, Council Secretariat, European Parliament Secretariat, etc.) and in terms and conditions for MEPs.

The Quality of Legislation Working Group, a time-limited group is working on the negotiation of an Inter-Institutional Agreement (i.e. between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council) on the quality of drafting of Community legislation. Cabinet

April 1997 to March 1998 April 1998 to March 1999
Members Chair Members Chair
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments 3 1 4 0
Advisory Committee on Advertising 0 1 6 0
18 Male 10 Male
Advisory Committee on JPs 19 Female 0 7 Female 0
Better Regulation Task Force 15 1 2 0
Civil Service Appeal Board 9 1 11 0
Committee on Standards in Public Life 8 1 1 0
Security Commission 0 0 2 0
Security Vetting Appeals Panel 5 1 0 0
Political Honours Scrutiny Committee 1 0 0 0
British Government Panel on Sustainable Development 0 0 5 1
Senior Salaries Review Body 0 0 4 1
People's Panel Advisory Group 5 1 0 0

The Government have made some progress in increasing representation of women, members of ethnic minority groups and of people with disabilities. Full departmental plans on equal opportunities were published by the

Office interest is via the Cabinet Office Legal Advisors (COLA), the Regulatory Impact Unit (RIU) and its legal advisers.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office will not be making a statement at this stage.