| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Government Communications
Mr. Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he intends to ensure effective communication between regional assemblies, the devolved institutions of the United Kingdom and central Government. [55945]
Dr. Whitehead: The Government's proposals for ensuring effective working relationships between different tiers of government following the establishment of elected assemblies in the English regions are set out in chapter 8 of the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" (Cm 5511), which was published on 9 May.
Committee Mandates
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the EC-former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Transport Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its
22 May 2002 : Column 343W
consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [58414]
Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of Article 22 of the Agreement between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the field of transport which was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 18 December 1997. The remit of the committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the Agreement. The committee would be made up of representatives appointed by the Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. But I am not aware that it has met since the conclusion of the Agreement or that there are any plans for it to meet in the immediate future.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the EC-Hungary Joint Transport Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [58412]
Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of the Agreement of 12 July 2000 between the European Community and the Republic of Hungary establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the Agreement. The committee would be made up of representatives appointed by the Community and Hungary. But I am not aware that it has met since the conclusion of the Agreement or that there are any plans for it to meet in the immediate future.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in air transport is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement; [55221]
- (2) what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions in the Shipping Industry is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement; [55220]
(3) what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions in the Transport Industry is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55219]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
22 May 2002 : Column 344W
The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions is the body through which the European Commission carries out its duty to consult member states on decisions and amendments to EC competition law which it proposes to adopt. For the UK, DTI and Office of Fair Trading officials and, where transport issues are under discussion, DTLR officials attend meetings of the committee.
The committee meets only when there are decisions or legislative proposals to discuss. In the last 12 months, there have been four meetings on air transport matters and two on maritime transport. Issues currently on the agenda are a proposed extension of Air Transport Regulation 1617/93, the granting of clearance to a co-operation agreement between Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines and a review of Maritime Transport Regulation 4056/86.
The process is transparent. The Commission publishes in the Official Journal of the European Communities the draft of any proposed change to legislation in advance of the committee meeting at which it will be discussed. Adopted decisions, which are open to challenge at the European Court of Justice, are also published in the Official Journal.
It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the EC-Slovenia Joint Transport Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [58415]
Mr. Jamieson: The committee is established under the provisions of the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Slovenia in the field of transport which was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 29 July 1993. The remit of the committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. The committee would be made up of representatives appointed by the Community and Slovenia. But I am not aware that it has met since the conclusion of the agreement or that there are any plans for it to meet in the immediate future.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Standing Committee on the Harmonisation of National Legislation on Cableway Installations Designed to Carry Passengers is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55372]
Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of Article 17 of Directive 2000/9/EC relating to cableway installations designed to carry persons. The remit of the committee is to assist the Commission in the implementation of the requirements of the directive and in coordination of all procedures. The committee would
22 May 2002 : Column 345W
be composed of representatives of member states and chaired by the European Commission. But I am not aware that it has met since the adoption of the directive or that there are any plans for it to meet in the immediate future.
Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Com(2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
Parliamentary Advisers
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the (a) names and (b) responsibilities are of parliamentary advisers appointed to serve his Department. [56985]
Dr. Whitehead: Ministers in this Department have made no such appointments.
Sellafield
David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the (a) safety precautions in force and (b) material used to transport MOX fuel from Japan to Sellafield. [58574]
Mr. Jamieson: (a) The regulations in force concerning safety are:
- Sea—The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 2367); Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 1755(M), "The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants in Packaged Form—Amendment 30–00 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code". The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel etc.) (Code) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No. 3216).
Rail—The Packaging, Labelling and Carriage of Radioactive Material by Rail Regulations (RAMRail) 1996 (SI 1996 No. 2090): Approved Requirements for the packaging, labelling and carriage of radioactive material by rail 1996 edition. The Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) and Use of Transportable Pressure Receptacles Regulations (CDGCPL) 1996 (SI 1996 No. 2092). The Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 303).
Road—The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Great Britain) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996 No. 1350).
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |