§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on the implementation of projects promoting co-operation and commercial relations between the European Union and the industrialised countries of North America, the Far East and Australasia is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64919]
§ Ms HewittThe EU Committee on the implementation of projects promoting cooperation and commercial relations between the European Union and the industrialised countries of North America, the Far East and Australia is next due to meet on 24 July 2002. Relations with the European Union are the responsibility of the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom, as Member State. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
172W
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on common rules for imports of products from third countries is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64928]
§ Ms HewittI refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 21 May 2002,Official Report, columns 232–33W.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on protection against dumped imports is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64926]
§ Ms HewittI refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 22 May 2002,Official Report, column 389W.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on defence against obstacles to trade which effect the market of the Community or a non-member country is next due to meet, whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64918]
§ Ms HewittI refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 21 May 2002,Official Report, column 230W.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on protection against subsidised imports is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64905]
§ Ms HewittI refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 22 May 2002,Official Report, column 389W.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
173W
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Textile Committee (conventional regime) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64917]
§ Ms HewittI refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 22 May 2002,Official Report, column 388W.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Coordinating Group for the Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use goods is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64922]
§ Ms HewittNo date has yet been fixed for the next meeting of the Co-ordination Group for the Community Regime for the Control of Exports of Dual-Use Items and Technology.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Standing Committee on technical rules and standards, including rules relating to information society services 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. [64827]
§ Ms HewittThe Committee on Standards and Technical Regulations is next due to meet on 30 October 2002. The UK is normally represented by one or two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for management of generalised preferences is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64920]
§ Ms HewittThe Committee last met on 3 June 2002. There are currently no plans for it to meet in the near future. The UK is normally represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). As the EU's Generalised System of Preferences Scheme is an international trade issue, the DTI delegates at this committee represent all of the UK. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
174W
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the harmonisation of credit insurance provisions for transactions with medium- and long-term cover is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64921]
§ Ms HewittThe Committee for the harmonisation of the main provisions concerning export credit insurance for transactions with medium and long-term cover is a comitology committee covering the work of the European Council Working Group on Export Credits.
Comitology procedures only exist for a very limited number of issues, the committee meets on an ad hoc basis and the committee has had no reason to meet in the past twelve months. We are unable to anticipate if or when it might be required to meet in future.
If a meeting of the committee was convened, the UK would be represented by our delegation to the Council Working Group comprising officials from the Export Credits Guarantee Department. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on standardisation in the field of information technology is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64902]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee on Standardisation in the field of Information Technology (SOGITS) has not met for over two years and there are no issues under consideration at present. Discussions are taking place to reactivate this Committee. The UK is normally represented by an official from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Standing Committee for the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning pressure equipment is next due to meet; what the UK representation on it is; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [64825]
§ Ms HewittProvision for such a Standing Committee is contained in Article 7.2 of the Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC but this has not yet been put into effect and so the Committee has never met.
An informal "Working Group on Pressure" has been convened, however, under the auspices of Article 17 of the Directive.
Representation from the United Kingdom is led by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry. They are supported by a technical expert from the Health and Safety Executive. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at 175W official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the harmonisation of national legislation relating to recreational craft is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64882]
§ Ms HewittIt is my understanding that the hon Member is referring to the Standing Committee set up under Article 6 of the Directive 94/25 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of Member States relating to recreational craft. The next meeting is scheduled for December 2002. The UK is represented by two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on implementation of the multiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64914]
§ Ms HewittThe next Enterprise Programme Management Committee (EPMC) is due to take place during September/October 2002.
The Multiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship is not a devolved activity.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee for implementation of the Community market-access strategy is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64961]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee for the Implementation of the Community Market-access Strategy last met on 6 June 2002. Its next meeting is likely to be in the first half of 2003. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on common rules for exports of products is next due to meet;176W whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64927]
§ Ms HewittThe EU Advisory Committee on Common Rules for Exports of Products last met on 8 May 2001. No date has been set for its next meeting and I believe it is unlikely to do so again in the foreseeable future. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for protection against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country, and actions based thereon or resulting therefrom (anti-boycott) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64923]
§ Ms HewittIt was intended that a Committee for Protection Against the Effects of the Extraterritorial Application of Legislation Adopted by a Third Country and Actions Based Thereon or Resulting therefrom (anti-boycott) would be established in Brussels to assist EU companies affected by extraterritorial jurisdiction by third countries, and in particular those affected by the extraterritorial aspects of the US trade sanctions against Cuba, Iran and Libya.
Thus far, the Committee has not been convened. UK companies are obliged to inform HMG and the European Commission of any extraterritorial action taken against them, but whilst it is clear who would be responsible for representing the UK at any meeting of the Committee, in these times of improved electronic communication, it has not been necessary in practice for it to meet.
In addition, as part of the 1997 Understanding between the EU and the US, the US undertook to exempt European individuals and companies from the extraterritorial aspects of US legislation drastically reducing the number of cases occurring, thus further reducing the need for the Committee to meet.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at officials and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touched on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions 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. [67752]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions met on 15 July. The UK is normally represented by officials from the Office of Fair Trading, and sometimes the DTI. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
177W
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in the transport industry is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [67753]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions in the transport industry meets only when there are European Commission decisions or legislative proposals to discuss. No meetings are currently planned. The UK is normally represented by officials from the Office of Fair Trading, the DTI and the DTLR. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on concentrations between undertakings 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. [67749]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions met on the 15 July. The UK is normally represented by officials from the Office of fair Trading and sometimes the DTI. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on General Authorisations and Individual Licences in the Field of Telecommunications Services is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68553]
§ Ms HewittNo meetings are currently scheduled for the EU Committee on General Authorisations and Individual Licences in the Field of Telecommunications Services.
The UK is normally represented at the Licensing Committee by two officials, one each from Oftel and the Radio Agency. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on the Implementation of Open Network Provision is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68554]
§ Ms HewittNo meetings are currently scheduled for the EU Committee on the implementation of Open Network Provision.
178WThe UK is normally represented on the ONP Committee by three officials, one from DTI and two from Oftel. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the Implementation of the Multiannual Community Action Plan on Promoting the Safe Use of the Internet is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68573]
§ Ms HewittThe Internet Action Plan Programme Committee is next due to meet on 28 October 2002. An official from the Department of Trade and Industry normally attends, and represents all of the UK. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the Implementation of the Multiannual Community Programme to Stimulate the Development and Use of European Digital Content on the Global Networks and to Promote Linguistic Diversity in the Information Society (e-Content) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68569]
§ Ms HewittThe Programme Management Committee met on 22 March 2002, and is next due to meet on 11 September 2002. The UK is normally represented by one official from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the Approximation of the Laws of the Member States Relating to Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68567]
§ Ms HewittThe Noise Committee met on 16 November 2001, and is next due to meet on 6 December 2002. The UK is normally represented by two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on Telecommunications Procurement is next due to meet; 179W whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68551]
§ Ms HewittNo meetings of the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications Procurement are currently planned. Under the Cabinet Office and Scottish Executive Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues, UK representation falls to the relevant UK Department (in this instance the Office of Government Commerce). The Concordat requires that the Scottish Executive should be fully consulted prior to any meeting of the Committee and provides that it may send observers or, with the prior agreement of the relevant UK Department, represent the UK at meetings. To date, UK representation at meetings of this particular committee has been by officials of the Office of Government Commerce.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on Security of Information Systems is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68555]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee on Security of Information Systems (SOG-IS) has not met for over three years and there are no issues under consideration at present. The UK is normally represented by an official from the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department of the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on fees, implementation rules and the procedure of the boards of appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (trademarks and design) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70904]
§ Ms HewittThe next meeting, which is expected to be the last in the current round aimed at agreeing detailed rules for the Community Registered Design, is due to be held on 19 September. The only officials normally attending are those who are expert on the specific issues, who come from the Patent Office.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touches on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee for co-ordination in the internal market field is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.[71823]
§ Ms HewittThe Advisory Committee for Co-ordination in the Internal Market Field has several formations. The next meeting of the "general" formation is planned for 3 December, although there are meetings of the Heads of Delegations formation planned for180W 8 October, "Better Regulation" formation planned for 24 July and 9 October and a Heads of Co-ordination Centres formation planned for 5 November.
The DTI co-ordinates single market policy and represents the UK at meetings of this committee, except in the case of the "Better Regulation" formation where Cabinet Office (Regulatory Impact Unit) officials also attend.
The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee of experts on the transit of natural gas through grids is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [71824]
§ Ms HewittThere is no date for the next meeting of the Committee, perhaps because it is due to be abolished under the Commission's current proposals for liberalising the European gas market.
The Committee is and always has been made up purely of experts from the industry, so no representatives of the Scottish Executive have ever sat on it. Lattice Group plc represents the UK, including Scotland, on the Committee.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Advisory Committee on the development and reconversion of regions is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [73161]
§ Ms HewittThe next meeting of this Committee is scheduled for 25 September. My Department, which has co-ordinating responsibility for Structural Funds in the UK, sends one representative. Other departments with responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund, and the Devolved Administrations, are also invited. A representative of the Scottish Executive normally attends as an observer. On average the UK representation is three officials.
For further information regarding the Committee I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 4 July 2002, Official Report, columns 467–68.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee of experts on the transit of electricity through grids is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.[73152]
§ Ms HewittThere is no date for the next meeting of the Committee, perhaps because it is due to be abolished under the Commission's current proposals for liberalising the European electricity market.
National Grid Company plc represents the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland. on the Committee.
181WThe Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new pieces of legislation originating in the European Union were implemented by her Department in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [73136]
§ Ms HewittMy Department has implemented five EU directives so far this year. It implemented nine EU directives in 2001 and sixteen in 2000.