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The range of NHS optical vouchers available to children, people on low incomes and individuals with complex sight problems are also being increased in value. In order to continue to provide help with the cost
of spectacles or contact lenses, optical voucher values will rise by an overall 2 per cent.
NHS charges and optical voucher values in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved Administrations.
Details of the revised charges for prescription items, appliances, dental charges and optical voucher values are as follows:
| Increases in Prescription Charges from April 2009 | ||
| Item | Current Charges | New charges |
| NHS Dental Charges | ||
| Course of Dental Treatment | Current Charge | From 1 April 2009 |
Home Department
Justice and Home Affairs Council
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Meg Hillier): The Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council was held in Brussels on 26 and 27 February 2009. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, Lord Bach, and the Scottish Solicitor-General, Frank Mulholland QC, attended on behalf of the United Kingdom. The following issues were discussed at the Council:
During the Mixed Committee with Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Ministers discussed progress in implementing the second generation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II) in the light of the analysis which had identified problems in the central system. Both the Commission and the presidency recognised the importance of the SIS II programme and the presidency reiterated that the repair phase would consist of two aspects, to be developed in parallel: an analysis and repair plan to resolve known bugs in the current SIS II programme and a contingency plan. The presidency also stressed the need for agreement on a set of common criteria against which both of these aspects could be assessed in the first half of 2009. The Council subsequently adopted Council conclusions confirming the action required in relation to the central SIS II project and a set of criteria against which the SIS II based scenario and an alternative scenario, based on a SIS I platform, would be assessed. They confirmed that a decision regarding the future of the project would be taken by June 2009 at the latest.
During the Interior Ministers’ meeting the Commission outlined the plans for implementation of the Visa Information System (VIS), notifying member states that the final phase had been pushed back to December 2009. The UK does not participate in the VIS.
The Council was presented with the draft report on the outcome of the Swiss air borders evaluation which will be considered by experts in March. Switzerland thanked the Commission and presidency for the help they had given in the months before the evaluation and indicated that it was happy with the conclusions of the draft report, taking note of its recommendations and undertaking to report regularly on progress. The presidency concluded by looking forward to 29 March when the Swiss were expected to join the Schengen area in full.
The Commission presented its proposal for a European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to the Council. The Commission explained that the EASO’s aims would be to enhance practical cooperation; help member states under particular pressures; and ensure a common European asylum regime. It would not make case decisions and would be part-financed through changes to the European Refugee Fund. The Commission hoped that the proposal would receive political agreement by the summer and be implemented in 2010. The proposal was broadly welcomed by a number of member states. The UK thanked the Commission for its proposal, noting that it went to the heart of what European co-operation was about: making a difference on the ground. It emphasised its support for practical co-operation on asylum in order to provide
protection for those who needed it. The UK stated that systems should be streamlined, to deliver fair decisions quickly and tackle abuse. The UK also argued for more work with countries outside the EU in order to stop asylum being the weak point in immigration systems and to stop refugees having to travel to the EU to find safety.
The presidency presented the Commission’s report on implementation of the free movement directive. The Commission said it hoped to adopt guidelines on application of the directive by the summer. They confirmed that the guidelines would cover abuses of free movement rights, including marriages of convenience and persistent criminality: moving to another member state carried responsibilities as well as rights. A number of member states highlighted their concerns about abuses of free movement. The UK welcomed the Commission’s work on guidelines and asked that they should set out consequences when these responsibilities are not met.
The Council briefly discussed the issue of combating illegal immigration in the Mediterranean. The discussion highlighted the role of Frontex (the European Border Agency), readmission agreements and the need for further development of the EU’s Global Approach to Migration.
The Council also discussed progress in resettling Iraqi refugees following the Council conclusions adopted in November 2008 which set an EU target of 10,000. The Commission welcomed the fact that member states had notified their intention to resettle 5,100 refugees so far, improving the situation of refugees in Syria and Jordan. The Commission stated that additional funds (€20 million) would be made available to support member states’ efforts.
During the working lunch Interior Ministers discussed the appointment of the Europol director, but no agreement was reached. The presidency said that it wanted to reach agreement at the next JHA Council meeting in April. The UK said that the recommendation of the management board, endorsing the UK candidate, should be followed.
The closure of the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay was also discussed during lunch. Ministers agreed that there was a need to obtain more information and study all aspects of the issue. Following the previous discussion in the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) there was agreement that further discussion with the United States would be a good idea.
Under any other business, SWIFT was discussed, concerning the controls and necessary safeguards on data protection and use under the Terrorist Financing Tracking programme. Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière commented that the US Administration had set up a particularly robust programme to ensure the protection of personal data for counter terrorism purposes, though there was still room for improvement. The Commission would be making available a report on state of play on SWIFT. On the EU’s anti-drug policy, the presidency and Commission stressed the need for more and better supply side indicators. A report would need to go to Council in June on this subject.
Ministers reached a broad consensus on presidency conclusions to steer negotiations on the proposed framework decision on prevention and settlement of conflicts of jurisdiction in criminal proceedings, in particular focusing the instrument on preventing situations where
the same person is subject to parallel proceedings in different member states, and establishing flexible mechanisms for communication. The UK supported these conclusions. The presidency hopes to be able to reach political agreement on this proposal at the June JHA Council.
A negotiating mandate was also agreed authorising the presidency to open discussions with Japan for an EU agreement on mutual legal assistance. The Commission noted that in future it would be necessary to decide how to prioritise target countries for these agreements.
The presidency updated member states on progress in e-justice and asked the Commission about the financing of e-justice projects, particularly video conferencing. The Commission reminded member states that there was already money available to fund e-justice projects and undertook to present all the available funding opportunities at the next JHA Council.
Under any other business the presidency provided a state of play report on negotiations on an amending directive on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements. It noted that the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament had proposed 19 amendments to the proposal. The presidency hoped that it would be possible to reach a first reading deal in April.
Sweden presented a paper on transparency in the EU, advocating the need to demonstrate a greater commitment to transparency, stronger protection of citizens’ individual rights and better understanding of the citizens' expectations. Germany updated member states on the appointment of a new director to the tribunal for the International Law of the Sea, which dealt with civil disputes. The Romanian delegation drew attention to the conference of Prosecutors General that they will be hosting in Bucharest from 23 to 25 March 2009.
Innovation, Universities and Skills
EU Education Council
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Mr. Siôn Simon): I represented the UK at the Education Council, on behalf of DIUS and DCSF.
Ministers adopted key messages to send to the spring European Council to be held on 20 March. These emphasise the importance of maintaining investment in training, the ‘knowledge triangle’ of research, education and innovation, the establishment of partnerships between education institutes and employers, and the upgrading and development of skills in developing a knowledge-based low-carbon economy. We welcome these messages. I highlighted domestic best practice in tackling the economic crisis, including support for small businesses and increased apprenticeship places.
Over lunch and in the meeting itself, Ministers held an exchange of views on the establishment of an updated strategic framework for European co-operation in education and training post-2010. This will build on the work programme in education already in place. Ministers were enthusiastic about working together to share best
practice and welcomed the four strategic objectives for the new period identified by the Commission. These focus on:
Making lifelong learning and learner mobility a reality;
Improving the quality of education provision and outcomes;
Promoting equity and active citizenship;
Enhancing innovation and creativity, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training.
However, there were reservations about the proposal to develop ten education benchmarks to measure progress against the strategic objectives. These would build on existing benchmarks for the period up to 2010 that measure low achievers in reading, early school leavers, completion of secondary education, numbers of maths, science and technology graduates, and participation in lifelong learning.
Most member states were content with the extension of existing benchmarks but were reluctant to establish many new ones. There was some support for a benchmark on pre-school learning and some opposition to ‘input based’ benchmarks on language learning and higher education investment. It was also generally felt that further work was needed to develop helpful and measurable benchmarks on mobility, employability, and innovation and creativity. Netherlands was the most negative member state on benchmarking in general. I and some other member state Ministers feel we can accept a few of the new topics proposed if there is further refinement of the measurement of the benchmarks. Further work will be required before agreement can be reached on this issue, expected at the next Education Council in May.
Under Any Other Business, the Commission noted that they had published the communication ‘New Skills for New Jobs’ in December 2008.
Sir Fred Goodwin
The Leader of the House of Commons (Ms Harriet Harman): The reply I gave the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llywd), on 4 March 2009, Official Report, Vol. 488, column 847 was incorrect.
It was in fact the case that Sir Fred Goodwin received his knighthood for services to banking.
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