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Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the oath taken by members of the police service in the Republic of Ireland to Xrender good and true service and obedience to the constitution and government of the Republic" is appropriate for recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland which incorporates the Royal Ulster Constabulary.[HL1594]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The declaration made by Garda Sochana officers is set in context by the words Xin the office of Garda in the Garda Sochana" contained within that declaration. If a Garda Sochana officer applied to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland and was successful, that person would no longer be serving in the office of Garda in the Garda Sochana and their oath would no longer be binding.
Moreover, anyone attested as a constable in the Police Service of Northern Ireland is required to make the declaration set out in Section 38 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 2000:
- XI hereby do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all individuals and their traditions and beliefs; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof according to law".
- What is their response to the Belfast Telegraph opinion poll on 22 November on the subject of the Police Service of Northern Ireland badge; whether, following this poll, they intend to continue with the current proposal; and, if not, whether they will give the duty of designing the new badge to the policing board.[HL1663]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government have noted the results of the Belfast Telegraph poll. As the Minister of State, Jane Kennedy, said in her letter to the statutory consultees:
- Xthe Government has employed designers to produce possible designs for the emblem or badge and new badges of rank . . . The designs by no means cover all the possibilities. They are intended to assist the Board in their consideration of this important matter. The Board may well have ideas of their own. We would nevertheless be grateful for any comments on the designs that consultees may have".
Cyprus: SBAs
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the British sovereign bases in Cyprus are within the European Union; and, if Cyprus becomes a member of the European Union, whether they propose that these two British sovereign bases will also be within the European Union. [HL1492]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The SBAs are outside the European Union, as agreed at the time of the UK's own accession. Following careful consideration of the political and technical aspects of this issue, the Government have concluded that the case for leaving the SBAs outside the European Union remains valid. We will be taking forward discussions with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Commission on that basis. Our policy will require some technical adjustments to ensure the continued smooth functioning of the relationship between the SBAs and Cyprus. We will need in particular to work out the best way to make sure that Cypriots who live and work in the SBAs do not benefit less from Cyprus's membership of the European Union than their compatriots in the Republic of Cyprus. And we need to ensure that the arrangements are compatible with the 1960 Treaty of Establishment. We will continue to keep Parliament informed of developments.
NATO Parliamentary Assembly: UK Delegation
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What the composition will be of the United Kingdom delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.[HL1752]
Baroness Symons: The following will represent the United Kingdom at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly:
- The Right Hon. Member for Swansea East (Mr Donald Anderson)
- The Right Hon. Member for North East Hampshire (Mr James Arbuthnot)
- The Hon. Member for the City of York (Mr Hugh Bayley)
- The Right Hon. Member for North East Fife (Mr Menzies Campbell CBE QC)
- The Hon. Member for Barnsley West and Penistone (Mr Michael Clapham)
- The Right Hon. Lord Clark of Windermere
- The Hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr Harry Cohen)
- The Hon. Member for Ilford South (Mr Michael Gapes)
- The Right Hon. Member for Walsall South (Mr Bruce George)
- The Lord Gladwin of Clee CBE
- The Hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr Michael Hancock CBE)
- The Right Hon. Lord Jopling DL
- The Hon. Member for Halifax (Alice Mahon)
- The Hon. Member for East Hampshire (Mr Michael Mates)
- The Hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr John Smith)
- The Hon. Member for Dunfermline West (Rachel Squire)
- The Right Hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley)
- The Hon. Member for Gosport (Mr Peter Viggers)
European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What the forthcoming business is in the Council of the European Union for December; and what the major European Union events are for the period between 31 December and May 2002.[HL1785]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: See attached. December 4—ECOFIN Meeting—Brussels 1. Adoption of the Agenda 2. Approval of the list of XA" items 3. Preparation for the Laeken European Council.
Report on Aims and working methods in the field of pensions
Report on structural indicators
Report on progress concerning the fiscal package 4. Fiscal Package
=Directive, including main features of a standardised form for exchanging information
=Interim reports by the Member States concerned on discussions with dependent or associated territories
=Progress report from Code of Conduct group 5. (Poss.) VAT invoicing (may become XA" item) 6. Financial Services
—(Poss.) Financial Services Action Plan, 5 Progress report from the Commission
—(Poss.) Proposal for a Directive on financial collateral arrangements
=Presidency report on progress
=Presidency report on progress
=Adoption 7. Annual report of the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2000
Presentation by the Court of Auditors 8. Galileo
Progress report 9. Economic situation in the air transport sector (insurance)
Report on developments in the situation 10. Preparation for ministerial meeting with the candidate countries 11. Conference on Financing for Development
—Common Position 12. Other Business Other business
3—Brussels—Employment and Social Affairs Council
4—Bruges—Culture Council (Ministerial Informal)
6–7—Brussels—Transport and Telecommunications Council
6–7—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council
10–11—Brussels—General Affairs Council
12–13—Brussels—Environment Council
17–18—Brussels—Fisheries Council
18–19—Brussels—Agriculture Council No agendas for the above are available yet.
The following are the principle events in the EU between 1 January and May 2002 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).
| Date | Location | Event |
| January | ||
| 10 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
| 17 | Brussels | Budget Council (Ev) |
| 21–22 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 21 | Brussels | Eurogroup (Evening) |
| 22 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 25–26 | Brussels | Meeting of Employment Ministers (Ministerial Informal) |
| 28–29 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| February | ||
| 9–10 | Brussels | Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) |
| 11 | Brussels | Eurogroup (Evening) |
| 14 | Brussels | Education and Youth Council |
| 14–15 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| 18–19 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 18–19 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 22–23 | Brussels | Telecoms and Information Society Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| 28 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council |
| March | ||
| 1 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council (Evening) |
| 1 | Brussels | Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council |
| 4 | Brussels | Eurogroup (Evening) |
| 5 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 7 | Brussels | Employment and Social Affairs Council |
| 11 | Brussels | Research Council |
| 11–12 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 15–16 | Barcelona | European Council |
| 18–19 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 21 | Brussels | Environment Council |
| 23–24 | Brussels | Defence Meeting (Ministerial Informal) |
| 25–26 | Brussels | Transport and Telecom Council |
| April | ||
| 5–6 | Luxembourg | Migrations Council (ASEM Ministerial Informal) |
| 8 | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council |
| 13–14 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) |
| 15–16 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council |
| 22–23 | Valencia | Euromed Conference |
| 22–23 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council |
| 25–26 | Luxembourg | Justice and Home Affairs Council |
| 27–30 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| May | ||
| 3–4 | Brussels | Tourism Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| 6 | Brussels | Eurogroup (Evening) |
| 7 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 9 | EUROPE DAY | |
| 13 | Brussels | General Affairs and Defence Council |
| 17–18 | Madrid | EU-LAC Summit |
| 21 | Brussels | Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council |
| 23 | Brussels | Culture and Audio-visual Council |
| 24–26 | Brussels | Environment Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| 27–28 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 30 | Brussels | Development Council |
| 30 | Brussels | Education and Youth Council |
| 31–1 June | Brussels | Transport Council (Ministerial Informal) |
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