EU Management Committees

HC Deb 01 July 2002 vol 388 cc69-71W

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Committee on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water is next due to meet; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members; and if she will make a statement. [63928]

Mr. Meacher

Article 20 of Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy provides that the regulatory committee established by Article 21(1) will assist the Commission in making any necessary technical adaptations to Annexes I, III and section 1.3.6 of Annex V to the directive, and in setting technical specifications and standardised methods for analysis and monitoring of water status. It may also assist the Commission in adopting guidelines on the implementation of Annexes II and V and in setting technical formats for transmission of statistical and cartographic data to the Commission.

The committee has not yet met, and no meeting has been arranged. However, the committee is due to meet at the latest by 22 December 2002. UK representation is likely to vary according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for dehydrated fodder is next due to meet; what the UK representation is on it; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members; and if she will make a statement. [63963]

Mr. Morley

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 917W.

There is no set schedule of meetings for the Management Committee for Dehydrated Fodder. UK representation on this management committee depends on the agenda items under discussion. Officials from the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations attend as necessary in accordance with their interests. However, no representative of the Scottish Executive has attended the Management Committee for Dehydrated Fodder.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for fresh fruit and vegetables are next due to meet; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members; and if she will make a statement. [63965]

Mr. Morley

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 912W.

The next meeting of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Management Committee is scheduled for 16 July 2002. UK representation on this committee depends on the agenda items under discussion. No representative of the Scottish Executive has attended.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of the EU Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for cereals; and if she will make a statement. [63964]

Mr. Morley

UK representation on the EU's Cereals Management Committee depends on the agenda items under discussion. Officials from the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations attend as necessary in accordance with their interests.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive have been members of the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on methods of measurement and frequencies of sampling and analysis of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the member states; and if she will make a statement. [63947]

Mr. Meacher

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 23 May 2002,Official Report, column 496W. No date has been set for the Committee to meet. UK representation would vary according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.