§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were presented to(a) the European Commission and (b) other EU member governments to locate the (i) European and Asylum and Migration Observatory, (ii) European Agency for Security of Communications Networks, (iii) European Food Authority, (iv) European Maritime Safety Agency, (v) European Aviation Safety Agency and (vi) European Rail Safety and Interoperability Agency in the United Kingdom; what discussions he had on locating each in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [131647]
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§ Mr. MacShaneWe have proposed that only one of the EU agencies be located in the UK and that is the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). We have suggested to our EU partners that it should be located in Glasgow. It is currently unclear as to when a decision will be made on the location of this Agency, along with several others, including those mentioned by the hon. Member. A number of other countries have bid for the site of the EMSA and other agencies. The last substantive discussion of the sites in general was at the Laeken European Council in December 2001.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were(a) presented to the European Commission and (b) presented to other EU member governments to place (i) the European Agency for Civil Protection, (ii) Eurojust, (iii) the European Police College, (iv) the Community Agency for Information Exchange on Visas, (v) the European Bureau of External Border Surveillance and (vi) the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in (A) England, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland; what discussions were held to secure its location in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [131795]
§ Mr. MacShaneWe have pro posed that only one of the EU agencies cited by the hon. Member be located in the UK, namely the European Police College Secretariat (ECS). We have suggested to our EU partners that this should be located at Bramshill. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today.