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Copies of Burial Grounds: The Results of a Survey of Burial Grounds in England and Wales have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office. Copies are also available on the internet at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics.htm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Jim Fitzpatrick): Lord Truscott will represent the UK at the forthcoming Energy Council in Luxembourg during the afternoon of 6 June.
The only substantive item on the Council agenda is the Internal Gas and Electricity Market, on which there will be a policy debate. The debate will follow on from the discussions of proposals put forward in the Commission strategic energy review that took place at the Energy Council in February and spring European Council in March. One of the key conclusions agreed by Ministers and Heads of Government was that further measures were required to achieve a fully effective internal energy market. This is something that the UK very much supports.
The debate will draw on three communications produced by the Commission and submitted to the Council as part of the Commission strategic energy review (an energy policy for Europe) in January 2007. These discussion documents cover (a) Prospects for the Internal Gas and Electricity Market; (b) the Sector Inquiry by DG Competition on the Gas and Electricity Markets and (c) the EU Priority Interconnection Plan.
Discussion will focus on the four main issues that the Commission intends to address in a further legislative package on the internal energy market, which is expected to be submitted in September 2007: further unbundling of networks, effective regulation, adequate infrastructure investment and co-operation among network operators.
The UK Government support the Commission position on all these proposals, and considers them as vital for the further development of the internal market.
The only other agenda item covers International relations in the field of energy. This is an important issue for the UK, though will only be an information item at this Council. It was discussed more fully at the March spring Council when the UK and other European Heads of Government reaffirmed the need for the EU to speak with a common voice on shared energy objectives. The German presidency and the Commission will report on a number of developments on the EUs relations with the USA, Russia, OPEC and Africa; on proposed international co-operation in energy efficiency; on the Energy Community Treaty; and on other EU initiatives in the international field.
The Minister for Industry and the Regions (Margaret Hodge): I will be representing the UK at the Telecoms Council in Luxembourg on 7 June 2007. This will be the only formal Telecoms Council under the German presidency of the European Union (EU).
The first item on the agenda will be political agreement on the proposal for a regulation on roaming on public mobile networks within the European Community. Following the endorsement by the European Parliament, it is expected that this Council meeting will also give political agreement to a text that will lead to the introduction of price reductions for consumers by the end of the summer. I intend to express my warm approval of the outcome, which as Members are aware, has been influenced by the UK. I will also take the opportunity to stress that the use of such a regulation to control prices should be seen as an exceptional measure.
The presidency will then provide a progress report on the proposal for the full accomplishment of the internal market of community postal services by 2009. There are significant economic and consumer benefits to be achieved through liberalisation of the postal market, and for that reason I intend to intervene in support of the Commission to help move this proposal forward. Political discussions on this key proposal are likely to continue over a ministerial lunch, where I will reinforce the UKs position and seek to encourage others to move towards our objectives.
After lunch the Council will reconvene with the adoption of the Council conclusions for the i2010 annual Information Society Report for 2007. The i2010 strategy sets the context for the EUs work on information society and media issues. The strategy consists of three priorities: the regulatory environment; innovation and investment; and inclusion. In my intervention I will express my continued support for the Commissions i2010 strategy, stressing its importance as an economic driver in achieving the goals of the Lisbon strategy for Jobs and Growth.
This agenda item will be followed by an exchange of views on the Commissions communication on the way forward for the take up of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in Europe. The UK welcomes the communication and generally supports its conclusions. During my intervention I will give my support to this communication but also emphasise the importance of avoiding excessive regulation as this will hinder the roll-out and take-up of RFID technology in the European and global economy.
Finally, under any other business, the Commission will provide information on their forthcoming Communication on the Evaluation of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).
I will write to Members again after the Telecoms Council to provide an update on discussions.
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Stephen Ladyman):
In February 2006 we issued a draft of proposed revisions to the Highway Code for
public consultation, which closed on 15 May 2006. Over 4,000 people offered a total of almost 27,000 comments.
Taking account of these comments, a new draft version of the Highway Code was laid before Parliament on 28 March 2007. A large number of responses to the consultation concerned the rules on cycling and more than 40 amendments were made to these and other rules to take account of comments from cyclists. However, since the code was laid before Parliament, further representations have been made by cyclists who remain concerned that the revised text of rules 61 and 63 on cycle facilities and cycle lanes is insufficiently clear.
Following informal discussions with the CTC, an organisation representing cyclists, we are proposing changes to draft rules 61 and 63 to make clearer the position regarding the advice in the code on the use of cycle facilities and cycle lanes. On 31 May the Department for Transport wrote to key road safety interests, including members of the Road Safety Advisory Panel, as well as cycling and walking representative bodies, concerning further changes to the Highway Code. A copy of the Departments letter has been placed in the Library of both Houses.
We have asked stakeholders to let us have their views by the end of Tuesday 12 June. The reason for this short timescale is so as not to unduly delay the publication of the new edition of the Highway Code. Any proposed changes have to be laid in Parliament for 40 days before they can come into effect, so will need to be laid by 15 June if the 40-day period is to be completed before summer recess. Views are requested by 12 June to allow time for them to be considered before laying the changes in Parliament. We would then expect to publish the revised edition of the Highway Code in September.
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Stephen Ladyman): I will attend the second Transport Council of the German presidency which takes place in Luxembourg on 7 and 8 June.
The Council will aim to reach political agreement on three maritime transport proposals. The first is a directive amending Directive 2002/59/EC, which established a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system. The second proposal is a recast of the existing directive (as amended) on port state control, with the introduction a new inspection regime aimed at the better targeting of ships for inspection, and with the prospect of banning seriously substandard ships from calling at EU ports. This recast is a part of the European Commissions programme of simplification of legislation.
The third proposal is a directive on investigation of maritime accidents, amending Directives 1999/35/EC and 2002/59/EC. We support the rationale and much of the content of the proposal, which is influenced by UK practice, and hope a political agreement can be reached. We think it is essential that EU accident investigation bodies are independent of political and/or
commercial pressures, and that accident investigation is undertaken to help improve safety and not to apportion blame
The UK is content with all three of the maritime texts being put to the Council for political agreement.
There will be a progress report on a draft regulation on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea and inland waterways in the event of accidents. The UK is broadly able to accept this proposal. Some good progress has been made on it and most of the outstanding issues relate to the Commissions desire to go beyond the Athens convention of 2002. We strongly oppose use of this regulation to extend the Athens convention to inland waterways. We are also keen to ensure that the regulation is as consistent as possible with the Athens convention and incorporates the IMO guidelines relating to insurance for terrorism.
There will be a policy debate on the setting up of a European data centre for the Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT). The UK along with the majority of EU member states supports, in principle, the concept of developing a cooperative data centre for the EU. However, more information on financing, technical and legal framework issues is required prior to offering definitive political support. The intention is to reach a political agreement, either to support or reject the concept, during the next meeting of the Council in October.
The Council will aim to reach a general approach on a regulation repealing Regulation 954/79 on ratification by member states of, or their accession to, the United Nations convention on a code of conduct for Liner Conferences. This will remove the block exemption currently held by this sector of the shipping industry. We agree with this repeal.
There will be a report on the current situation on the Galileo satellite navigation programme. The Council will be asked to accept that the current negotiations for a PPP concession stand little chance of being completed satisfactorily. There are related scrutiny reserves. An explanatory memorandum is being submitted on the recent Commission communication on the negotiations and alternative options.
The UK position is that there is not enough evidence on the cost and risk, or the affordability in terms of the Community financial perspectives, for the Council to make a decision on an alternative way forward. The UK will continue to argue that a decision on the way forward is premature without more information and that finance Ministers should be involved
The Council will be asked to agree conclusions on a European energy strategy for transport. The UK is broadly content with the latest draft. Our main concern is to ensure that the language on the planned framework for attaining the CO2 emissions target from new cars is consistent with that in the conclusions of the 21 May 2007 Competitiveness Council.
The Council will aim to reach a general approach on a directive bringing up to date the rules on transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterway. There were a number of difficult issues which were solved in the negotiations. The UK was content with the outcome and supports the proposed directive.
There will be a progress report on a draft directive on rail interoperability. The UK supports the proposal and will be working with the German presidency to solve remaining issues before the end of its term
The Council will be asked to reach a political agreement on an amending regulation to extend the role of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to flight operations, personnel licensing and the safety of third-country aircraft. The UK supports the development of a comprehensive European regulatory system, centred on an effective European Aviation Safety Agency, as part of its commitment to establishing a high, uniform level of aviation safety across Europe.
The Council will be asked to reach a general approach on a regulation on rules for the operation of air services. This is a recast version of the third aviation package, the legislation which set up the aviation single market. We have engaged robustly with the Commission and other member states to secure significant improvements to the original proposals. The improvements are largely deregulatory and will ensure the better and more consistent operation of the common aviation area, closing certain loopholes that were being exploited to the detriment of UK carriers.
One issue remains unresolved, namely whether national social law should apply to airline staff employed outside that airlines home country. We believe that such a provision is inappropriate here and cuts across established EU legislation on labour issues. In order to secure final agreement to the regulation, we are proposing to the Council a neutral text which simply asserts that all relevant social provisions of Community law would apply to such workers.
The Council will aim to agree a resolution on the formal establishment of a joint undertaking to implement the SESAR programme, the new generation European air traffic management system. We welcome confirmation of the commitment by the European Commission and Eurocontrol, as founder members of the JU, to fund the development phase. However, we believe the financial commitment of industry is critical to the overall success of the project.
The Council will be asked to adopt broad conclusions on the EU position on aviation emissions trading, in preparation for the 36th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in September. The UK is keen to work within the ICAO framework to develop policies, instruments and standards to reduce the impact of aviations emissions.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tom Harris): The Department for Transport has today published the Thames Valley Regional Planning Assessment for the railway (RPA), the latest in the series of eleven RPAs covering England and Wales. The Yorkshire and Humber RPA is also being published today.
Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and can also be downloaded from the Departments website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk
The Thames Valley RPA covers west London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, plus a small number of stations in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire on lines from London Paddington and London Marylebone.
RPAs provide the link between regional spatial planning (including preparation of regional transport strategies) and planning for the railway by both Government and the rail industry, and are designed to inform the development of the Governments strategy for the railway. They look at the challenges and options for development of the railway over the next twenty years, in the wider context of forecast change in population, the economy and travel behaviour.
An RPA does not commit the Government to specific proposals. Instead it sets out the Governments current thinking on how the railway might best be developed to allow wider planning objectives for a region to be met, and identifies the priorities for further development work.
It is the Governments intention to publish the Wales RPA during the summer.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tom Harris): The Department for Transport has today published the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Planning Assessment for the railway (RPA), the latest in the series of eleven RPAs covering England and Wales. The Thames Valley RPA is also being published today.
Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and can also be downloaded from the Departments website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk
The Yorkshire and Humber RPA covers the Yorkshire and the Humber planning region, together with parts of Greater Manchester and North Derbyshire which are both included in the wider journey to work area of the Yorkshire and Humber region, and also the key trans-Pennine corridors, linking the region with Manchester and the wider North-West. The RPA excludes a small part of North Yorkshire where rail services on the Whitby Line are closely linked to the North-East network and were covered in the North-East RPA.
RPAs provide the link between regional spatial planning (including preparation of regional transport strategies) and planning for the railway by both Government and the rail industry, and are designed to inform the development of the Governments strategy for the railway. They look at the challenges and options for development of the railway over the next twenty years, in the wider context of forecast change in population, the economy and travel behaviour.
An RPA does not commit the Government to specific proposals. Instead it sets out the Governments current thinking on how the railway might best be developed to allow wider planning objectives for a region to be met, and identifies the priorities for further development work.
It is the Governments intention to publish the Wales RPA during the summer.
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