§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 May 2002,Official Report, column 519W, on ferry services, on what dates and in what locations discussions regarding the EU directive on minimum conditions of service and wages for seafarers took place; what documents were submitted by the UK Government in the course of such discussions; and who represented the UK on each occasion. [60015]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
Discussions on the Commission's draft EU ferry-manning directive have taken place at the European Transport Councils on the following dates:
- 20–21 December 2000 in Brussels (Lord MacDonald represented the UK)
- 9–10 December 1999 in Brussels (Lord MacDonald represented the UK)
- 30 November to 1 December 1998 in Brussels (my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson) represented the UK)
- 17–18 June 1998 in Luxembourg (my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh (Dr. Strang) represented the UK).
The outcome of the latest European Transport Council discussion was reported in the other place by the then Minister for Transport (Lord MacDonald) on 1 January 2001, Official Report, columns WA 116–18. The UK Government have not submitted any documents for these discussions, which have concerned the Commission's draft proposal.