§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what occasions since the Treaty of Amsterdam was signed has the United Kingdom under Article 44 of the Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland notified the European Community that it wished to accept a measure of the Council pursuant to Title IV (formerly iii a) of the European Community Treaty. [HL332]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)The Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland consists of eight articles and it is assumed that the noble Lord intended to refer to Article 4 rather than Article 44 of the Protocol. The United Kingdom has never notified the Council and Commission under Article 4 of the Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland that it wishes to accept a measure previously adopted by the Council pursuant to Title IV of the European Community Treaty.
The UK has, however, notified its intention, in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol, to participate in the adoption and application of a number of proposals under Title IV in the areas of asylum, combating illegal immigration and civil law, in accordance with the Government's general policy on Title IV.