§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on water intended for human consumption, (b) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats and (c) the EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda for each meeting; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting, including the officials present; and if she will make a statement. [132714]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information is as follows:
(a) The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on water intended for human consumption
The Drinking Water Directive management committee met during the Danish presidency on 26 November 2002 and during the Greek presidency on 8 May 2003. Issues discussed included sampling and monitoring for radioactivity, lead, copper and nickel, and studies on drinking water.
(b) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats
The Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats met during the Danish presidency on 5 July 2002. It discussed the Implementation of the Council 888W Regulation concerning the community scale for the classification of Ovine animals. The Committee did not meet during the Greek presidency.
(c) The EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste
The EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste met during the Danish presidency on 25 July 2002 and during the Greek presidency on 29 January 2003. Issues discussed included data reporting on recycling and recovery of packaging waste, development of the CEN standards on packaging, and notification of Belgium concerning Article 6(6) of Directive 94/62/EC.
The devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are kept fully informed of the work of all Committees and their views are fully reflected at Committee meetings.
Regarding any preparatory meetings, Exemption 2 to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and (b) the EU Committee on the conservations of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (habitat) during the Danish and Greek Presidencies; what items were on each agenda for each meeting; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting, including the officials present; and if she will make a statement. [132716]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information is as follows:
(a) The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources;
The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources did not meet during the Danish Presidency. It met on one occasion during the Greek presidency on 27 March 2003. Issues discussed at the Committee included grassland fertilisation and nitrates, tracing nitrate origin, and updated monitoring guidelines for groundwater and surface waters.
(b) The EU Committee on the conservations of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (habitat);
The Habitats Committee (the Committee on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) met during the Danish Presidency on 20 November 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 10 March 2003. Issues discussed included the Natura 2000 Network and conservation projects.
The devolved administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are kept fully informed of the work of all Committees and their views are fully reflected at Committee meetings.
Regarding any preparatory meetings, Exemption two to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.