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3 Mar 2005 : Column 1275W—continued

Deer

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of wild deer in the UK, broken down by breed. [218931]

Mr. Bradshaw: The following are mid-1990s estimates of wild deer numbers in Britain by species 1 .
SpeciesNumber
Red deer360,000
Roe deer500,000
Fallow deer100,000
Sika Deer11,500
Muntjac40,000
Chinese Water deer480–650

Disability Discrimination Act

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to access to the countryside, with particular reference to the use of gates and stiles. [218382]

Alun Michael: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ensures that private or public landowners, who are service providers", will be subject to the provisions of the Act. Service providers are required to take reasonable steps to remove, alter or provide a reasonable means of avoiding physical features.

As far as rights of way are concerned, we believe that this will apply to features such as stiles and gates—which might act as barriers to disabled people accessing their services—since the provision and maintenance of these is the landowner's responsibility. However, it is not clear at this stage what reasonable steps" would mean in practice and this will probably only be established by case law.
 
3 Mar 2005 : Column 1276W
 

Section 69 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides for the Secretary of State to issue guidance on how the powers to authorise works are to be exercised. We plan to issue this guidance later this year and will consider using this opportunity to issue guidance on the application of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

As regards access to open country under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, we believe that landowners are unlikely to be service providers under the Disability Discrimination Act just because their land has been designated under this part of the Act. Landowners may become service providers if they voluntarily provide signs, gates, stiles or other infrastructure to support the right of access, but there is no case law in this area. If the courts decide that the Disability Discrimination Act does

apply in these circumstances, then we would expect reasonable steps" to take account of factors like cost, land management, privacy and the level of demand from local disabled people

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical and Scientific Progress of the Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds (ORNIS) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217816]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on conservation of wild birds (the ORNIS Committee) met twice during the Irish and Dutch residencies on 18 March 2004 and 20 September 2004 in Brussels. The ORNIS Committee did not meet during the Italian presidency. UK representation on 18 March 2004 comprised one official from my Department together with a scientific adviser from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and on the 20 September 2004 an official from the Scottish Executive attended together with a scientific adviser from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Gambia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217823]

(2) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Greenland) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217824]

(3) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Guinea) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217825]
 
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(4) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Guinea Bissau) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217826]

(5) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Cape Verde) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217828]

(6) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Comoros) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217829]

(7) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Co(r)te d'Ivoire) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217830]

(8) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Estonia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217831]

(9) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Angola) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217883]

(10) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Argentina) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217884]

(11) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch residency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EC-Russia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217926]

(12) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Sao Tome" and Principe) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217927]

(13) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Senegal) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217928]

(14) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Seychelles) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217929]

(15) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Madagascar) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217932]
 
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(16) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Morocco) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217933]

(17) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Mauritania) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217934]

(18) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EC-Poland) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217935]

(19) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch residency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC- Equatorial Guinea) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217936]

(20) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Mauritius) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217937]

(21) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Latvia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217938]

(22) how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Lithuania) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement; [217939]

Mr. Bradshaw: The UK did not attend any of the Joint Committees (except that for EU-Greenland) listed in these questions as we have no fishing interest in these waters. Records about these meetings are not held by my Department. The meetings of the EU/Greenland Joint Committee took place on 28 September 2004 and 1–2 February 2005. The discussions were about the operation of the Fourth EU/Greenland Protocol. The UK was represented by a Defra official.

There are no bilateral fisheries agreements between Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Argentina and Morocco.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Oils and Fat met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217847]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Oils and Fats Management Committee were held on the following dates:
 
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PresidencyDate of meeting
Italian16 July 2003
28 August 2003
10 September 2003
24 September 2003
8 October 2003
19 November 2003
10 December 2003
Irish21 January 2004
19 February 2004
24 March 2004
15 April 2004
27 May 2004
1 June 2004
25 June 2004
Dutch23 July 2004
26 August 2004
15 September 2004
29 September 2004
20 October 2004
12 November 2004
10 December 2004

All meetings were held in Brussels and were attended by a Defra official.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004, and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Natural Fibres met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217848]

Alun Michael: The information is as follows.

Italian presidency—July to December 2003

The committee met on the 28 November 2003 when one UK expert attended.

Irish presidency—January to June 2004

The committee met on 24 March and 28 May 2004. On each occasion one UK expert attended.

Dutch presidency—July to December 2004

The committee met on 7 September when one UK expert attended, and on 30 November 2004, when two UK representatives attended.

The meetings provide an opportunity to exchange market information and to discuss the regulation of natural fibres.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch
 
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presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217855]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Management Committee were held on the following dates:
PresidencyDate of meeting
Italian3 July 2003
22/23 July 2003
4 September 2003
16/17 September 2003
14 October 2003
12 November 2003
15 December 2003
Irish13 January 2004
10 February 2004
9 March 2004
25 March 2004
21 April 2004
11 May 2004
18 June 2004
Dutch23 July 2004
8 September 2004
14 September 2004
6 October 2004
19 November 2004
8 December 2004

All meetings were held in Brussels and were attended by Defra officials.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004, and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Products Processed from Fruit and Vegetables met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217856]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Processed Fruit and Vegetables Management Committee were held on the following dates:
PresidencyDates of meetings
Italian22/23 July 2003
16/17 September 2003
14 October 2003
12 November 2003
1 5 December 2003
Irish13 January 2004
10 February 2004
9 March 2004
21 April 2004
11 May 2004
27 May 2004
18 June 2004
Dutch23 July 2004
8 September 2004
14 September 2004
6 October 2004
19 November 2004
8 December 2004

 
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All meetings were held in Brussels and were attended by Defra officials.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004, and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Wines met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217857]

Alun Michael: The Wine Management Committee met nine times during the Italian presidency, 10 times during the Irish presidency and six times during the Dutch presidency. The meetings took place on the following dates: 8 and 23 July 2003, 9 and 23 September 2003, 15 and 28 October 2003, 12 and 25 November 2003, 10 December 2003, 13–14 and 27 January 2004, 10 and 24 February 2004, 9 and 23 March 2004, 20 April 2004, 11 May 2004, 9 and 15 June 2004, 13 July 2004, 17 September 2004, 12 and 26 October 2004, 24 November 2004 and 16 December 2004. All meetings were held in Brussels.

UK Government representation consisted of one Defra official for the majority of these meetings, although on several occasions, two Defra officials attended in view of the nature of the agenda items. In each case the representatives were from the Department's Food and Drink Industry Division.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Raw Tobacco met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217858]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Raw Tobacco Management Committee were held on the following dates:

Irish presidency


 
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Dutch presidency

The Raw Tobacco Management Committee did not meet during the Italian presidency.

All meetings were held in Brussels and were attended by a Defra official.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004, and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Hops met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217861]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Hops Management Committee were held on the following dates:
PresidencyDate of meeting
Italian2 October 2003
IrishNo meeting
Dutch11 November 2004

All meetings were held in Brussels and were attended by Defra officials.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004, and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Seeds met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217862]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Management Committee for the common organisation of the market in seeds did not meet during the Italian presidency. During the Irish and Dutch presidencies the Committee met in Brussels on the following dates, with UK representatives as noted:
 
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Representative from:
Irish Presidency
28 January 2004The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dutch Presidency
29 September 2004The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

A series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU (Cm 6174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005), which covers the periods of the above presidencies, is available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Live Plants and Floriculture Products met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217863]

Mr. Bradshaw: There were no meetings of the Management Committee for Live Plants and Floriculture Products during the period covered by the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidencies.

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm 174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Management Committees of the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets for Bananas met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217864]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Bananas Management Committee were held on the following dates:
PresidencyDate of meeting
Italian16 July 2003
5 November 2003
Irish11 February 2004
26 February 2004
1 April 2004
6 April 2004
11 May 2004
Dutch17 June 2004
25 June2004
23 July 2004
13 October 2004
22 October 2004
18 November 2004

All meetings were held in Brussels and were attended by Defra officials and on occasions a representative from the Rural Payments Agency .
 
3 Mar 2005 : Column 1284W
 

A series of Command Papers on developments in the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Implementation Committee for spirit drinks met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217868]

Alun Michael: The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee (SDIC) met once during the Italian presidency, three times during the Irish presidency and twice during the Dutch presidency. The meetings took place on the following dates: 29 October 2003, 9 and 23 March 2004, 15 June 2004, 27 September 2004 and 24 November 2004. All meetings were held in Brussels.

UK representation at all these meetings consisted of one Defra official, apart from that held in November 2004, when two Defra officials attended. In each case the representatives were from the Department's Food and Drink Industry Division.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Implementation Committee on aromatised wine-based drinks met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217869]

Alun Michael: The Aromatised Wine Implementation Committee meets very infrequently. There have been no meetings of the Committee since 2002.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the joint meetings of management and/or regulatory committees in the field of agriculture—agrimonetary questions met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217871]

Alun Michael: The committees dealing with these issues met irregularly over the period specified.

The meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by officials from Defra only.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the joint meetings of management and/or regulatory committees in the field of agriculture—trade mechanisms met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217872]

Alun Michael: Meetings of the Directorate General (DG) Agri Trade Mechanisms Management Committee usually take place on a monthly basis in Brussels. The Committee met five times during each of the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidencies.
 
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During the Italian presidency, the committee met on 15 July, 16 September, 14 October, 11 November and 9 December 2003.

During the Irish presidency, the committee met on 20 January, 17 February, 16 March, 20 April and 25 June 2004.

During the Dutch presidency, the committee met on 20 July, 21 September, 19 October, 16 November and 14 December 2004.

The United Kingdom's delegation to the DG Agri Trade Mechanisms Management Committee is led by officials from the Rural Payments Agency, with HM Customs in attendance depending on the agenda.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Standing Forestry Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217874]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Standing Forestry Committee met twice during the Italian presidency, on 1 July 2003 and 4 November 2003; it met four times during the Irish presidency, on 12 January 2004, 31 March 2004, 28 May 2004 and 22 June 2004; and it met twice during the Dutch presidency, on 28 September 2004 and 22 October 2004. All the meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by Forestry Commission officials.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee and working party on irregularities met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217881]

Alun Michael: The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee and related working parties met on average about once a month during the lifetime of each presidency.

All meetings were held in Brussels. The UK was represented by officials from Defra, and, depending on the agenda and their availability, officials from the UK Co-ordinating Body, the Treasury, the Devolved Administrations, and the Rural Payments Agency also attended some meetings.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the committee on supply of agricultural products to the population of the former Soviet Union met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217882]

Alun Michael: The Department has no record of such a committee and is not aware that any such meetings have taken place.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch
 
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presidency of the EU the Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [215918]

Alun Michael: The Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species met once during the Italian presidency on 14 October 2003; once during the Irish presidency on 2 April 2004; and once during the Dutch presidency on 18/19 October 2004. All the meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by an official from the Department's Plant Health Division and also, in the case of the meeting on 18/19 October 2004. a scientific adviser from the Central Science Laboratory.

The mandate of the Committee is to consider and adopt measures to facilitate implementation of Council Directive 92/34/EEC on the marketing of fruit propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production. The UK's priorities are to secure arrangements which are proportionate and facilitate access to a wide range of healthy propagating material, and provide increased opportunities for UK trade while ensuring co-ordination with the parallel EU plant health regime. The Committee's agendas and meeting reports are available on the European Commission's website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/rc/scpfgs/index_en.h tml.

A series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005. which cover the periods for the above presidencies are available on the FCO website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [215919]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry met in Brussels on the following dates with UK representatives as noted:
PresidencyUK representatives
Italian
2003
24/25 JulyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
22 SeptemberDefra, and the UK Permanent Representation to the EU
25/26 SeptemberDefra (including the Central Science Laboratory) and the Forestry Commission
15 OctoberDefra
27/28 OctoberDefra
11 NovemberForestry Commission
26 NovemberDefra
15 DecemberDefra
Irish
2004
26/27 JanuaryDefra
2 FebruaryDefra
23 FebruaryDefra (including the Central Science Laboratory) and the Forestry Commission
8/9 MarchDefra
6/7 MayDefra
25 JuneDefra and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
Dutch Presidency
2004
6 JulyDefra
13/14 SeptemberDefra and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
21 OctoberDefra
12 NovemberDefra
16/17 NovemberNo UK representative

 
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UK representation at these meetings depended upon the agenda for each meeting.

A series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU (Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005), which covers the periods of the above presidencies, is available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for Community protection of plant variety rights met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [215920]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Standing Committee on Community Plant Variety Rights did not meet during the Italian and Irish presidencies. The Committee met once during the Dutch presidency on 24 November 2004 in Brussels and was attended by representatives from the Plant Variety Rights Office in my Department.

A series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU (Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005), which covers the periods of the above presidencies, is available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.


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