§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Customs and Indirect Taxation is; how many times it has me over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [61700]
§ John HealeyThere is no record of the existence of an Advisory Committee on Customs and Indirect Taxation.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the mandate of the EEC-Hong Kong Customs Co-operation Sub Committee 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration: if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement; [61730]
324W(2) what the mandate of the EEC-United States of America Customs Co-operation Sub Committee 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement; [61733]
(3) what the mandate of the EEC-Israel Customs Co-operation Sub Committee 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement; [61732]
(4) what the mandate of the EEC-Mexico Special Committee on Customs Co-operation 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [61731]
§ John HealeyAll of the committees listed below have been set up by the Council in accordance with obligations under agreements between the EC and the third country or economic grouping in question:
- EEC-Israel Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee
- EEC-Hong Kong Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee
- EEC-United States of America Customs Co-operation Sub-Committee
- EEC-Mexico Special Committee on Customs Co-operation.
They normally meet annually (one year Brussels, the following year in the subject country). Their aim is to maintain co-operation agreements in the customs field, particularly in exchanging information. The agenda for these meetings is broad—any part of the agreements being potentially included.
HM Customs attends preparatory Council meetings (approximately six per year) which co-ordinate, as part of a wide-ranging agenda, for the bilateral EC/third country committee meetings. Travel expenses for two officials are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70). HM Customs officials do not normally attend the bilateral meetings. In the Customs area, the EC has exclusive competence and leads in the bilateral meetings, normally accompanied by the member state holding the presidency. If, exceptionally, there is a point of direct interest to the UK, representatives from the Permanent Representation in Brussels would attend the meeting.
Accountability and transparency to Parliament are ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process. Prior to agreement at the various Councils (ECOFIN, JHA, GAC), documents are submitted to Parliament along with Explanatory Memoranda and are examined by the European scrutiny committees.