§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002. [106842]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Home Office plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on asylum and immigration. Since 17 April 2002, the Home Office has implemented, on the basis of provisions in existing legislation, Council Directive 2001/51/EC of 28 June 2001 supplementing the provisions of Article 26 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement. Notification to the effect was sent to the Commission on 16 January 2003.
EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some Regulations may require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. The legislative changes required to implement the EURODAC Regulation were made in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, effective from 11 December 2000, by virtue of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2000. Implementation was completed when the centralised EURODAC fingerprint database became operational on 15 January 2003.