§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the EU Committee on the system for comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (Eurodac) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70928]
§ Beverley HughesThe EURODAC system itself is not yet operational. There are no immediate plans for the Committee established by Article 23 of the EURODAC Regulation to meet. Immigration and asylum matters are reserved subjects and consequently officials from the34W Scottish Executive are not members of the Committee. A Home Office official and an official from the United Kingdom (UK) Permanent Representation in Brussels will represent the UK at meetings of the Committee.