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Iran: Arms Embargo

Lord Woolmer of Leeds asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any goods subject to the national arms embargo have recently been approved for export to Iran.[HL930]

Baroness Amos: The Government have recently issued a licence for the export of synchros to be used as an inspection tool on Tay 650 engines used to power Fokker 100 aircraft. These synchros were made as military electronic equipment. However, the Government are satisfied that these synchros are to be used only for the upkeep of the Fokker 100, a civil aircraft. The risk of these goods being diverted for use by the Iranian military is minimal.

EC Regulations

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many directly applicable regulations of the European Community have had, without further enactment, the force of law in the United Kingdom (a) at the time of accession to the Community; and (b) in the course of each calendar year subsequent to that of accession until the year 2001; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the reference numbers, names of each such regulation and year of application, listed under the headings of the principal and other departments of state.[HL649]

The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): EC regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. It would incur

13 Jan 2003 : Column WA14

disproportionate cost to identify the number of regulations enacted at the time of the UK's accession to the European Community.

Some regulations enact small or technical amendments. Others may have been repealed since their enactment. As far as we have been able to verify, the number of regulations enacted since the UK's accession are as follows:

1973: 3,616

1974: 3,331

1975: 3,426

1976: 3,237

1977: 3,026

1978: 3,181

1979: 3,074

1980: 3.565

1981: 3,827

1982: 3,633

1983: 3,762

1984: 3,723

1985: 3,836

1986: 4,137

1987: 4,189

1988: 4,283

1989: 4,064

1990: 3,944

1991: 3,925

1992: 3,956

1993: 3,699

1994: 3,385

1995: 3,096

1996: 2,525

1997: 2,653

1998: 2,866

1999: 2,820

2000: 2,909

2001: 2,611

2002 (up to August): 1,512

Given the volume of regulations involved, it would incur disproportionate cost to place in the Library the reference numbers, names and year of application of each of the regulations.

Iran: Nuclear Activities

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have received from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the alleged construction of clandestine nuclear fuel cycle facilities at Natanz and Kashan; why the visit by IAEA Director-General General Mohammed El Baradei scheduled for the week of 12 December was postponed; and whether they wil remind Iran of its obligation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation

13 Jan 2003 : Column WA15

Treaty to allow inspection by the IAEA of all of its nuclear activities.[HL789]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The IAEA is seeking clarification of the allegations with the Iranian authorities before reporting to member states. We understand that Dr El Baradei's visit was postponed at the request of the Iranian authorities but is now due to take place in February.

The UK regularly reminds Iran both of its existing obligations under the NPT and the need to strengthen them further by signing an additional protocol to its safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

EU Englargement

Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 16 December (HL Deb, cols 477–478), whether, as stated in the Sunday Telegraph on 15 December, members of the political classes in the nations applying to join the European Union stand to increase their salaries 20 times if they can get a job in Brussels after accession; and, if so, whether they consider that this prospect may colour the attitude of those negotiators to the desirability of European Union membership.[HL801]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I have nothing to add to the Answer given by the Lord Privy Seal. The Government believe that the enlargement of the EU will benefit the citizens of the new and existing member states.

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for January; and what are the major European Union events for the period between 1 February and 31 July 2003. [HL871]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Business in the Council of the European Union, January–July 2003

9—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium

9—Brussels—Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed)

16—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium

20—Brussels—EUROGROUP (Evening)

20—Brussels—Convention Plenary

20–21—Brussels—Agriculture & Fisheries Council

21—Brussels—ECOFIN

24—Nafplion—Employment Council (Ministerial informal)

27–28—Brussels—General Affairs & External Relations Council

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28—Brussels—EU-ASEAN Ministerial

30—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium

European Calendar: February–July 2003

Date	Location	Event
February 2003
5	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
6–7	Brussels	Convention Plenary
10–11	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (tbc)
13	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
17	Brussels	EUROGROUP (evening)
18	Brussels	ECOFIN
20	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council (tbc)
22	Thessaloniki	Energy Council (Ministerial informal)
24–25	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations Council Agriculture & Fisheries
26	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
27–28	Brussels	Convention Plenary
27–28	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
28	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
March 2003
1–2	Ioannina	Informal Education
3	Brussels	Competitiveness Council
4	Brussels	Environment Council
6	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
6	Luxembourg	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
6	Luxembourg	EUROGROUP (evening)
7	Luxembourg	ECOFIN
7	Luxembourg	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
13	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
14–15	Athens	Informal Defence Meeting
17–18	Brussels	Convention Plenary
17–18	Luxembourg	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
18–19	Luxembourg	General Affairs & External Relations Council
21	Brussels	European Council
27	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
27–28	Luxembourg	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
27–28	Athens	EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR
28–29	Veria	Informal Justice & Home Affairs
31	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (tbc)
April 2003
2	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
3–4	Brussels	Convention Plenary
4	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs
4–6	Hania (Crete)	Informal ECOFIN (Ministerial)
5	Lisbon	Europe—Africa Summit
5	Ioannina	Ministerial Meeting on Education (Informal)
10	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
11–13	Chania	ECOFIN (Informal)
14	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
14	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries
16	Athens	European Conference
16	Athens	Signature Of The Accession (Provisional date)
23	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
24–25	Brussels	Convention Plenary
May 2003
2–4	(Greece)	Gymnich (Informal Foreign Ministers)
5	Athens	Informal Environment (Ministerial)
5–6	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council (tbc)
8	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
12–13	Corfu	Agriculture (Ministerial informal)
12–13	Brussels	Competitiveness
12	Brussels	EUROGROUP
13	Brussels	ECOFIN
14	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
14	Brussels	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
15–16	Brussels	Convention Plenary
16	Brussels	EU—ACP Ministerial
16–17	Halkidiki	Informal Regional Policy (Ministerial)
16-18	Cruise off Greece	Informal Transport & Merchant Marine (Ministerial)
17	Brussels	EU—W. Balkans (Zagreb Process)
19	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations (+ Defence)
20	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
22	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
24	Thessaloniki	Informal Culture (Ministerial)
26–27	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
26–27	Athens	EUROMED Conference (mid- term (Ministerial)
27	Brussels	Environment Council
28	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
30–31	Brussels	Convention Plenary
31	St. Petersburg	EU—Russia Summit
June 2003
2	Brussels	EUROGROUP
2–3	Alexandroupoli	Development Co-operation (Ministerial informal)
2–3	Brussels	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
3	Brussels	ECOFIN
4	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
5–6	Brussels	Convention Plenary
5–6	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
5–6	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
6	Rhodes	Informal Public Administration
11	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
11–12	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
12–13	Brussels	Convention Plenary
17–18	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
20	Halkidiki	European Council
21	Halkidiki	Zagreb Process II Summit
22	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
24	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
July 2003
10	Varese	Informal Council/Troika
11–12	Varese	Informal Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs
17	Treviso	Informal Meeting of the EU Employment Committee
21	Rome	Meeting of MISEP focal points (Mutual Information System on Employment Policies in Europe)
24	Milan	European Conference on Discrimination

13 Jan 2003 : Column WA18

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