HC Deb 03 November 1999 vol 337 cc192-3W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999,Official Report, column 264 on judicial and police co-operation, if he will list those measures in respect of the Treaty of the European Community which the Government intend (a) to adopt and (b) not to adopt; if they participate in consideration of measures which they do not intend to adopt; and in respect of each measure if he will include its official reference, where and when it was discussed, and the current stage of parliamentary scrutiny to which it is subject. [96568]

Mr. Straw

Title VI of the Treaty on European Union contains provisions on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters in which member states participate as of right. The question of adopting or not adopting individual measures does not, therefore, arise. Each measure is subject to unanimity. All Third Pillar matters which meet the criteria for scrutiny are submitted to Parliament in the usual way. The following issues are under consideration:

Draft Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters

  • Official reference 9636/99 (COPEN 11).
  • Last discussed by the Article 36 Committee on 22 October.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 23 July. Not yet cleared.

Draft Framework Decision on counterfeiting of the euro

  • Official reference 9966/99 (DROIPEN 4).
  • Last discussed in the Working Group on Substantive Criminal Law on 19 October.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 20 July. Not yet cleared.

Draft joint action on combating serious environmental crime

  • Official reference 5579/99 (CK4 10).
  • Last discussed in the Working Group on Substantive Criminal Law on 16 September.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 29 January.
  • Cleared by the House of Lords on 3 March and by the House of Commons on 16 June.

Draft Framework Decision on combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment

  • Official reference 11217/99 (CRIMORG 135).
  • Not yet discussed.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 13 October. Not yet cleared.

Draft joint action on criminal law protection against fraudulent or unfair anti-competitive conduct in the award of public contracts in the common market

  • Official reference 6946/99 (JUSTPEN 16).
  • Last discussed in the Working Group on Criminal Law/Community Law on 7 April.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 6 April and cleared on 28 April.

Draft Decision on the Exchange of Information between Financial Intelligence Units

  • Official reference 9961/99 (CRIMORG 101).
  • Discussed by the Multi-Disciplinary Group on Organised Crime on 26 and 27 July.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 6 August. Not yet cleared.

Draft Joint Action on Asset Sharing

  • Official reference 13007/98 (CRIMORG 178).
  • Discussed at the K4 Committee on 23 and 24 January.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 4 March. Not yet cleared.

Council Decision authorising the Director of Europol to enter into negotiations on agreements with third states and non-European Union related bodies

  • Official reference 11854/2/99 (EUROPOL 43).
  • Discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council Meeting on 29 October.
  • Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 20 October.
  • Cleared by the House of Lords on 26 October and by the House of Commons on 27 October.

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