§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the multi-annual Community action plan on promoting the safe use of the internet is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56739]
§ Ms HewittThe Internet Action Plan Programme Committee was established by Decision 276/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999, adopting a multi-annual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks. The Committee has met three times over the past 12 months: on 11 September 2001, 22 February 2002 and 28 May 2002.
It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the Committee without incurring disproportionate cost. The programme develops self-regulatory approaches to dealing with illegal or harmful content. Issues currently under consideration are: the selection and funding of awareness and hotline proposals, the terms of reference of the call for tender for the final evaluation of the present programme, and a proposal for a two year extension to the programme.
Together with Member States, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (COM(2001)783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Management Committee on Horizontal Questions Concerning Trade in Agricultural Products is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of it work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55366]
§ Mr. MorleyThe mandate of the Management Committee on Horizontal Question Concerning Trade in Agricultural Products (usually known as the "Trade Mechanisms Group") is to oversee a number of CAP market support and control measures. The Committee's 1379W main role is in connection with the regulations pertaining to the import and export of agricultural products.
The Committee meets monthly, with the exception of August.
The UK's usual representation consists of two officials from The Rural Payments Agency ("RPA"). However, officials from other Departments such as HM Customs also attend occasionally, depending on the agenda for the meeting in question.
Travel expenses of approximately £11,000 for two delegates were reimbursed by the Commission. Other costs, consisting of subsistence allowances and travel expenses for additional officials, are met by the parent Agency or department of those in attendance and amounted to approximately 6,300 over the last 12 months.
Issues presently under consideration include a number of amendments and clarifications to the main external trade regulations in response to, for example, reports issued by the Court of Auditors.
Arrangements are in place to report on the Committee's activities through DEFRA, RPA's parent Department. RPA has a range of measures to communicate changes to the regulatory regime to its customers and other interested parties. The activities of RPA generally are subject to scrutiny by various audit bodies, including the National Audit Office.
The Committee may be regarded as a comitology committee. Consequently the following points are relevant in regard to increasing its accountability and transparency:
Together with Member States, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission";As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee for the application of the rules on the manufacture and placing on the market of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotiopic substances is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56790]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthI have been asked to reply.
The procedures and guidance for meetings of the Drug Precursor Committee are contained in Article 10 of both Council Regulation 3677/90 and Council Directive 92/109/EEC.
1380WThis Committee usually meets every quarter. In the last 12 months it met in May, September and December 2001, and in March 2002.
The Home Office is the lead United Kingdom Government Department for this Committee and is represented at all meetings. When necessary representatives of the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise also attend.
The annual cost to public funds of the work of this Committee is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Items currently under consideration by this Committee include: increasing licensing procedures required for the export of the precursor chemicals acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate; evaluation of European Union precursor legislation; and negotiation of a bilateral precursor agreement with Turkey.
The Commission, together with Member States, is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Library on 26 February (Commission Document 5685/02).
As part of the review process, the United Kingdom Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agenda and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.