HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 cc214-5W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Technical Adaptation Committee on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels 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. [55229]

Mr. Jamieson

This committee has never functioned.

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. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the committee on the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterways 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. [55684]

Mr. Jamieson

The committee's mandate is to review technical aspects relating to the mutual recognition of boatmasters' licences. The UK is not represented at the committee's meetings. There is no cost to public funds.

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. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the committee on application of the legislation on the minimum level of training for seafarers and the recognition of certificates issued by training institutes or administrations of third countries (STCW) 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. [56833]

Mr. Jamieson

The regulatory committee set up under Article 23 of Directive 2001/25/EC on the minimum level of training for seafarers has met twice in the last 12 months. The committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission. The remit of the committee is to oversee the implementation of the directive and its main focus is the recognition of non-EU certificates of competency. The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the annual cost of its work to public funds is about £1,600. The committee will next consider a revision of the maritime training directive to improve the procedure for the recognition of certificates of competency issued by non-EU countries.

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.