Examination of Witnesses (Questions 300
- 307)
WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2003
RT HON
MARGARET BECKETT,
MR ANDREW
RANDALL AND
MS HELEN
LEGGETT
300. It is a huge subject, and obviously the
DTI will have an input in that, and the Treasury?
(Margaret Beckett) They will have an input into that
as well.
Mr Thomas
301. I think it was in Cardiff, in the year
2000, that it was decided that the EU Spring Summit should always
focus on environmental issues?
(Margaret Beckett) Yes, I think it was.
302. Can you tell us what is going to happen
in the forthcoming EU Spring Summit as regards taking forward
the EU's commitment?
(Margaret Beckett) I rather think—and again
I am speaking from memory—that what is anticipated is that
they will look at how the EU's external sustainable development
strategy can reflect some of the outcomes of the WSSD. I think
that is what is happening.
303. Have you got any more preparatory work
in the Department? Have you got anything that might be useful
to share with the Committee on what is likely to come out of this?
(Margaret Beckett) I am not sure, but if we have,
we will.
304. Reflecting the earlier question, I think,
about Canada, I hesitate to use the word "federal" here,
but of course Canada is trying to deal with federal policy. In
a different context, the EU has a similar structure and of course
negotiated as a bloc at Johannesburg?
(Margaret Beckett) Indeed.
305. So are you thinking of any initiatives
in terms of co-ordinating that? What can you say to us that can
alleviate any concerns that the whole issue might drift at the
EU level?
(Margaret Beckett) I think the principal thing I would
say to you is that the Environment Council, I think, is extremely
mindful of the importance of that acceptance and commitment. This
time last year there was actually a kind of focus on "You
must make sure that the Cardiff decision is taken forward".
I think that will continue to be the case, that the Environment
Council will continue to take a keen interest in how these issues
are handled.
306. Will there be any policy initiatives coming
out of this Spring Summit? Some of the things that came out of
Rio, which the EU negotiated a position on, which could not get
through to the final declaration, might now be usefully taken
forward at the European level anyway. Has anything like that been
put forward?
(Margaret Beckett) There are discussions going on
about the EU's own strategy and how that might be developed, slightly
separately really from anything that happens at the EU Summit,
because again if it does not need to go to the Summit it should
not go to the Summit.
Chairman
307. We have had quite a long session, Secretary
of State. I sense that possibly you have answered most of the
questions that we have asked, but there are a few things that
we would like to follow up, if we may. The Clerk will be in contact
with your officials, if possible, arising out of today's session.
(Margaret Beckett) Absolutely.
Chairman: I would like to thank you for quite
a long session and for being so frank and helpful with your answers.
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