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Higher Education Sponsorship
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of (a) women and (b) men in full-time higher education receive financial aid or sponsorship from the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force. [12923]
Dr. Reid: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
European Parliament Buildings
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations
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his Department has made on the financing of new buildings for the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. [12510]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We have consistently pressed for value for money and sound financial practice in all European institutions. Overall ceilings for expenditure are set by the Council, but within that, spending by the European Parliament on building and other programmes is a matter for the Parliament in the first place, subject to scrutiny of its spending by the European Court of Auditors. We have not made separate representations.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) those functions of final decision that will lie within the competence of the European Community Court of Justice in Luxembourg in respect of (i) criminal and (ii) civil cases and (b) those functions concerning human rights that will be within the competence of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, following the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam. [12848]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will continue to have jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions of Community law in cases referred to it by courts or tribunals of a member state pursuant to article 177 of the treaty establishing the European Community. It will also acquire jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions relating to certain instruments adopted under the revised title VI of the treaty on European Union--police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters--in cases referred to it by courts or tribunals in any member state which, by a declaration, accepts that jurisdiction. We do not intend to accept that jurisdiction.
The treaty of Amsterdam does not affect the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is governed by the European convention for the protection of human rights and freedoms, and the protocols thereto.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) criminal and (b) civil matters relating to the European Community and Union will come within the competence of the European Community Court of Justice either as direct jurisdiction, by case law, or after consultation by national court subsequent to the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam. [12866]
Mr. Henderson:
The European Court of Justice will continue to have jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions of Community law in cases, whether criminal or civil, which may be referred to it by courts or tribunals in a member state pursuant to article 177 of the treaty establishing the European Community. It will also acquire jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions relating to certain instruments adopted under title VI of the Treaty on European Union as revised by the treaty of Amsterdam--police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters--in cases referred to it by courts or tribunals in any member state which, by a declaration, accepts that jurisdiction. We do not intend to accept that jurisdiction.
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Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which matters concerning human rights will be determined by (a) the Court of European Human Rights in Strasbourg and (b) the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, following the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam. [12867]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The treaty of Amsterdam does not affect the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is governed by the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the protocols thereto. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will have jurisdiction in the field of fundamental rights only with regard to action of the Community institutions, in so far as the Court has jurisdiction under the treaties establishing the European Communities and under the Treaty on European Union.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much European Communities funding was made available to the (a) PSE, (b) PPE, (c) ELDR and (d) EdN groups of the European Parliament in the last year for which figures are available. [12291]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The total amount of EU funding made available to the political groups in the European Parliament in 1995 was 12.055 mecu-- £17.5 million. The 1997 budget allows for 12.5 mecu--£18 million.
We are awaiting figures broken down against individual political groups. I will write to the hon. Member when this information is received.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, columns 90-91, what aspects of culture will be monitored by the European monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia. [12331]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
It will be for the centre itself to decide on its work programme. The monitoring centre must, however, carry out its tasks within the limits of Community competence.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Agenda 2000 applicant countries will be expected to treat membership of the Western European Union as acquis communautaires. [12529]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
No. Membership of the European Union does not require membership of the Western European Union, which is a separate organisation.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers
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are employed at the European Commission; for which commissioners they work; what is their nationality; what is their total pay; and if he will make a statement. [12327]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Each Commissioner is entitled to appoint one paid special adviser. Special advisers are not full-time employees of the Commission. They are consulted ad hoc, and paid per day worked. Total pay for all special advisers in 1996 was 165,000 ecu. They are not selected on the basis of nationality.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Treasury over the cost of the measures proposed by the European Commission to deepen European Union relations with Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [12344]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
My Department is in regular contact with the Treasury about the European Commission's proposals for deepening relations with Turkey. The UK supports the Commission's view that these should be financed from existing resources under the customs union protocol agreed by the Council in 1995 and the MEDA regulation.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Commission's proposal to increase co-operation between the EU and Turkey (a) on the environment, (b) on social development, (c) on justice and home affairs and (d) on humanitarian issues. [12328]
Mr. Henderson:
We welcome the European Commission's proposal to increase co-operation in the above areas, which would benefit EU member states and Turkey.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy on the accession of Cyprus to the EU. [12530]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We support Cyprus' accession to the EU. We hope that this will be on the basis of a settlement, leading to the accession of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. This will bring benefits to both communities on the island.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on increasing co-operation in the European Union at the consular and diplomatic level; and if he will make a statement. [12316]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The obligation on diplomatic and consular missions of Member states to co-operate in implementing common measures adopted by the Council was created by article J.6 of the Maastricht Treaty. That obligation is relocated but unchanged in article J.10 of the draft Amsterdam treaty. We are committed to ensuring effective implementation of agreed EU policies.
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and Xenophobia
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