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EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on the protection of
 
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animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [215406]

Caroline Flint: There were no meetings of the Advisory Committee on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes during the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidency of the EU.

Article 22 (3) of Directive 86/609/EEC (on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes) provides for the Commission to establish

a permanent consultative committee within which the member states would be represented, which will assist the Commission in organising the exchange of appropriate information, while respecting the requirements of confidentiality, and which will also assist the Commission in the other questions raised by the application of this Directive."

The Commission made a decision on 9 February 1990 (90/67/EEC) for setting up the Advisory Committee on the Protection of Animals for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes under Article 22 of the Directive, including provision for representation and working methods. However, the Committee has never been established. The Commission has made a recommendation for the Directive to be revised. In its initial comments on what amendments might be considered, the United Kingdom has suggested that the Commission should consider either dispensing with or establishing the Advisory Committee.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the programme training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum, immigration and crossing of external borders (Odysseus) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [215411]

Mr. Browne: The Odysseus funding programme expired in 2002 and was replaced by a funding programme known as ARGO. The Management Committee of ARGO last met on 5 November 2003 in Brussels. The UK was represented at this Committee by a Home Office official and an official from the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. The Committee did not meet during the Irish or Dutch Presidencies of the EU.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children (STOP) and (ii) Committee for the implementation of the programme of incentives and exchanges for legal practitioners (Grotius general and criminal) met; when and where each meeting took place; what UK Government expert was present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement; [216721]
 
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(2) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for the prevention of crime (Hippocrates) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement; [217244]

(3) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the Joint Action establishing a programme of exchanges, training and co-operation for persons responsible for action to combat organised crime (Falcone) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [217245]

Caroline Flint: The STOP II, Oisin II, Falcone, Hippocrates and Grotius (general and criminal) funding programmes expired on 31 December 2002. Their Management Committees last met on 23 and 24 July 2002 to agree the successful projects for funding for that final year. They have since been replaced by a single funding programme known as AGIS.

During the period 1 July 2003 to 31 December 2004 the AGIS Management Committee met three times. On 14 October 2003 it met to discuss the draft annual work programme and call for bids for 2004. On 27 May 2004 it discussed the evaluation of bids for 2004. On 16 September 2004 it met to discuss the draft annual work programme and call for bids for 2005. Before each meeting the Home Office conducted preparatory consultations with past bidders, stakeholders, agencies and devolved Administrations to discuss the UK's position in the Committee.

The Committee meetings take place in Brussels. The UK is generally represented at meetings of these Committees by Home Office officials and an official from the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.

The composition of the UK delegation is always agreed beforehand and it is possible for Scottish Executive officials to attend meetings of the Committees as part of the UK delegation.

Europol

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Initiative 2004/C 317/06, OJ C317 of 22 December 2004, the designation of Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting; what additional responsibilities Europol officers will have; what additional rights ensue with regard to (a) activities in the United Kingdom, (b) required liaison by UK officers, (c) obligations by UK courts and (d) the charging of criminals and the location of their hearings; and for what reasons the UK has agreed to sponsor this initiative. [215239]

Caroline Flint: The initiative to designate Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting is still being discussed in the Council of Ministers. Its aim is to make Europol a central point at which EU member states and third countries can share information in relation to euro counterfeiting.
 
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Euro counterfeiting is a growing area of crime. The UK Government considers that this initiative would improve the effectiveness of the fight against euro counterfeiting and consequently agreed to co-sponsor it.

The designation will not affect the responsibilities, rights or powers of Europol officers or Europol staff in the UK or elsewhere.

The Bank of England is the designated National Central Office" in the UK and as such acts on behalf of the European Central Bank in the UK for matters relating to the counterfeiting of euro banknotes. UK officers send any counterfeit currencies found in the UK to the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the first instance. Counterfeit euros or English sterling are then sent on to the Bank of England which will represent the European Central Bank in court proceedings in the UK. UK officers supplying or requesting information about euro counterfeiting would liaise with Europol staff in the usual way. The initiative creates no new obligations for the UK courts, or in respect of charges or the location of hearings. Charges may be brought in the UK courts for euro counterfeiting crimes.

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the raids which have been conducted by Europol in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years. [216447]

Caroline Flint: Europol is not an operational police force and its staff do not have operational powers. Europol does not conduct any raids.

Since the UK recently ratified the 2002 Protocol amending the convention on the establishment of the European Police office (Europol Convention) and the Protocol on the privileges and immunities of Europol, the members of its organs, the deputy directors and the employees of Europol", Europol staff members are able to be present when joint investigation teams carry out coercive measures. However they will not have any operational powers when they are present in those situations.

Extradition (United States)

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure reciprocity of extradition arrangements with the United States, following the recent agreement allowing British nationals to be handed over to the US authorities to face charges for any criminal offence. [217291]

Caroline Flint: Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the extradition treaty concluded with the USA on 31 March 2003 is broadly reciprocal, and that there are sufficient safeguards in the treaty and in the Extradition Act 2003, which governs extradition requirements in the UK, to prevent unfairness.

The arrangements apply only to serious criminal charges, as defined in the Treaty and the Extradition Act 2003, these being punishable under the laws of both States by deprivation of liberty for a period of one year or more. This modernises the definition of an extradition offence in line with international practice. Both nations have been prepared to extradite their own citizens to each other, and to other states with whom they have had arrangements, since the 19th century.
 
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Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the House was informed of the content of the treaty amendment agreed in 2003 between the USA and the United Kingdom relating to extradition; and if he will place a copy of the treaty amendment in the Library. [217775]

Caroline Flint: The text of the treaty was presented to Parliament in May 2003, and was published as a Command Paper on 22 May 2003. A copy of the new treaty was placed in the Library.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the URL is for the internet text of the US/UK extradition treaty as amended in 2003; and if he will make a statement. [217777]

Caroline Flint: The link for the US/UK bilateral extradition treaty can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, at www.fco.gov.uk. The document is available in pdf format under the Command Papers" section on the FCO site.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths were caused by (a) legally held and (b) illegally held firearms in each year since 1996. [210009]

Caroline Flint: There have been concerns over the quality of this data and, as a result, it has not been published. Because of these concerns, and following consultation with the police service, this data item ceased to be collected centrally from 1 April 2004.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilians have been issued with a licence to own a pistol for self-defence pursuant to section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 in England and Wales in each of the last five years, broken down by county. [215779]

Caroline Flint [holding answer 10 February 2005]: None.

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