HC Deb 20 December 2000 vol 360 cc210-1W
Ms Kelly

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if she will make a statement on the progress being made on the British-Irish Council; [141758]

(2) if she will make a statement on the progress being made on the British-Irish Council. [141767]

Mr. Ian McCartney

British-Irish Council Environment Ministers met in London on 2 October to pursue the Council's work in this area. Ministers met in Belfast yesterday to discuss transport matters. There have also been official-level meetings to take forward work on the Council's other priority issues: drugs, social inclusion, and the knowledge economy.

While a date has not yet been identified for the next summit-level meeting of the BIC (postponed following the death of the right hon. Donald Dewar MP MSP, First Minister of the Scottish Executive), this is likely to take place early in the new year.