§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2002,Official Report, column 607W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on agricultural structures and rural development; and if she will make a statement. [73167]
§ Alun MichaelDevolved Administrations attend meetings of the EU Committee on agricultural structures and rural development where they consider the agenda to contain items of sufficient interest. Scottish Executive representatives attended in December to hear of the Commission's revised reporting requirements, in February when its annual modification to the Scottish Rural Development Programme was considered, and in July to look at proposed simplification of the Rural Development Regulation.
290WOur approach is one of teamwork in which we seek to ensure that there is an agreed UK line on issues covered by the Commission committees, taking into account devolved administration views in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. In particular, where the rural development programmes of the Scottish Executive or the other devolved administrations are being dealt with by the Committee, we would normally expect representatives from the relevant administration to speak on behalf of the UK.