§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Technical Adaptation Committee on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work 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. [55228]
§ Dr. WhiteheadEuropean Council Directive 89/391/EEC makes provision for committees to work on
the purely technical adjustments to the individual directives provided for in Article 16 (1) to take account of: the adoption of directives in the field of technical harmonization and standardization, and/or technical progress, changes in international regulations or specifications, and new findings …The UK representatives at such meetings would be drawn from staff with the relevant technical and policy responsibilities within the Health and Safety Executive. During the last 12 months they have received no invitations to such technical meetings; nor are any currently scheduled.
669WTogether with member states, the European 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 the House on 26 February (Commission Document 5685–02). As part of the review process, the UK Government have 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 Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Committee on the system of charging for the use of transport infrastructure 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. [55643]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe committee of Government experts on charging for the use infrastructure was established by the Commission following the publication of its 1998 White Paper "Fair Payment for Infrastructure Use: A phased approach to a common transport infrastructure charging framework in the EU" (COM(1998)466). It is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission. The terms of reference set for the group were to develop and advise the Commission on Community guidance on methods to estimate the marginal costs of transport; develop practices to promote transparency of accounts; promote the development of 'transport accounts' at member state level; and to advise the commission on statistical and research needs and priorities. The committee has met once in the last twelve months. The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the annual cost of its work to public funds is about £1,000. No items are currently under consideration by the committee.
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 (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process. the UK Government have 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 Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Committee for granting community670W financial aid in the field of trans-European transport networks 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. [55639]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe transport trans-European network (TEN) Financial Assistance Committee is established under the provisions of Article 17 of the TEN financing regulation (Regulation (EC) 2236–95). The Committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission. The remit of the Committee is to consider—and, where appropriate, to vote upon—budgetary measures proposed by the Commission. The Committee has met twice in the last 12 months. The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the annual cost of its work to public funds is about £2,000. The Committee will next consider a proposal from the Commission for the allocation of the 2002 transport TEN budget.
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 (Corn (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 Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on aids to transport by rail, road and inland waterway 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. [55683]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis Committee was established under the provisions of article 6 of the 1970 regulation on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and inland waterway (Regulation (EEC) No. 1107–70). The remit of the Committee is to assist the Commission in its examination of aids granted for transport by rail, road and inland waterway. When it met, the Committee was composed of representatives of member states and was chaired by the European Commission. But, as far as we are aware, the Committee has not met for several years. Were it to meet, the UK would be represented by officials from my Department. There have been no costs to public funds in recent years. No items are currently under consideration by the Committee.
671WTogether 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 (Corn (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have 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 Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods 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. [55678]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods is established under the provisions of article 9 of Council directive 94/55/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road (the so-called ADR framework directive), as amended. It also deals with the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the technical annexes to Council directive 96/49/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail (the so-called RID framework directive), as amended; Council directive 95/50/EC on uniform procedures for checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road, as amended; Council directives 96/35/EC and 2000/18/EC on the appointment and vocational qualification and minimum examination requirements of safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterways; and Council directive 99/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment, as amended.
The Committee is composed of representatives of the member states and is chaired by the Commission. Representatives of relevant European trade associations are also often invited to attend. The remit of the Committee is to consider—and where appropriate to vote upon—amendments to the technical annexes to the various directives listed above. The Committee has met twice in the last 12 months, and usually meets biannually. It often meets in tandem with a 'group of experts on the transport of dangerous goods' to discuss matters of mutual interest. The UK is represented by officials from my Department, usually accompanied by officials from the Health and Safety Executive, and the cost of its work, and that of the 'group of experts', to public funds is about £5,500.
The Committee is next scheduled to meet on 25–26 June 2002 but, since there is unlikely to be the need for a formal vote, it is anticipated that this will be 672W in the form of the 'group of experts'. Items on the agenda are likely to be question and answer information on transportable pressure equipment; consideration of national derogations under articles 6.9 and 6.10 from the ADR and RID framework directives; consideration of formal amendment of the technical annexes of the ADR and RID framework directives; and possible measures on the security of dangerous goods in road and rail transport.
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 (Corn (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have 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 Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Committee on the development of trans-European transport networks 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. [55642]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Committee on the development of the transport trans-European network (TEN) is established under the provisions of Article 18 of the transport TEN guidelines (decision no. 1692/96/EC). The Committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission. The Committee exchanges information on member states' transport TEN plans and programmes and assists the Commission in preparing its biennial report on the implementation of the TEN guidelines and its quinquennial report on the need for revisions to the guidelines. The Committee has met twice in the last 12 months. The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the annual cost of its work to public funds is about £2,000. The Committee is currently considering the scope of a revision to the transport TEN guidelines scheduled for 2004.
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 (Corn (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an 673W electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.