§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [39130]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Home Office has implemented two European Community directives during the period specified.
European Community directive 95–46 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data was implemented by the Data Protection Act 1998.European Community directive 2000–8 on the manufacture and placing on the market of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances was implemented by SI 2001 No. 3683.The Home Office also has responsibility for the following European Community measures which have been formally adopted but which have not required any specific implementation.
757WCouncil decision establishing a European Refugee Fund for the financing of projects relating to conditions for reception of displaced persons; integration for recognised refugees and others with stable and lasting forms of international protection; and voluntary repatriation for persons who have applied for asylum or some other form of international protection and been refused. Formally adopted on 28 September 2000.Council regulation concerning the establishment of "EURODAC" for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention. Formally adopted on 11 December 2000.Council decision on the conclusion of an agreement between the European Community and Republic of Iceland and Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the state responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a member state or Iceland or Norway. Formally adopted on 15 March 2001.Council directive on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance between member states in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof. Formally adopted on 20 July 2001.Additionally, a number of measures have been adopted by the Council relating to Title IV matters on which the United Kingdom has not exercised its right to opt in to the adoption of the measure. The United Kingdom is therefore not bound by them.
The Home Office does not hold information concerning the cost to public funds of each instrument. This information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost. The costs of the European Refugee Fund come from the Community budget.
Where a proposal is likely to impose significant costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations, a Regulatory Impact Assessment is produced. Copies of these are placed in the Library.