§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to his Department that have been implemented in each of the last four years, specifying(a)the title and purpose of each, (b)the cost to public funds of each and (c)the cost to businesses of each. [39118]
§ Peter HainThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office plays a co-ordinating role in UK EU policy. As such the Foreign and Commonwealth Office rarely leads on implementation of directives and regulations.
(a)The Foreign and Commonwealth Office lead on Regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
This regulation consolidates the initiatives that the institutions have already taken with a view to improving the transparency of the decision-making process. The purpose of the regulation is to give the fullest possible effect to the right of public access to documents and to lay down the general principles and limits on such access in accordance with Article 255(2) of the EC treaty.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also lead on the implementation of the following legislation where it is applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic:
Council Regulation (EC) No 1035/2001 of 22 May 2001 establishing a catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus spp. (Patagonian toothfish and Giant Antarctic Cod).Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 of 15 December 2000 fixing for 2001 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required.Council Regulation (EC) No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000 establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy.Council Regulation (EC) No 2742/1999 of 17 December 1999 fixing for 2000 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where the limitations in catch are required and amending Regulation (EC) No 66/98.Council Regulation (EC) No 1721/1999 of 29 July 1999 laying down certain control measures in respect of vessels flying the flag of Non-Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.Council Regulation (EC) No 2479/98 of 12 November 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 66/98 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic.Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2113/96.(b)We do not hold information in the form requested. The information could be assembled only at a disproportionate cost.
54W(c)Departments are required to produce Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for proposals, including those originating in European legislation, likely to impose significant costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. The above legislation was not considered to have a significant cost to business.