32nd REPORT [bis]: EU LEGISLATION—PUBLIC
AWARENESS OF THE SCRUTINY ROLE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
Thank you for the copy of your report on EU
Legislation—Public Awareness of the Scrutiny Role of the
House of Lords. The Government welcomes the quality of analysis
and expertise, reflected in this report, that the Committee contributes
on European issues.
You asked to be kept informed of the Government's
European Union public communications initiatives. The Government
welcomes the Committee's support and interest in the Government's
commitment to engaging and informing the UK public on EU issues
and the future of Europe debate. In April, as well as the new
website we also published an updated "Guide to the European
Union". In June, we produced a short, animated one-minute
guide to the EU which can be viewed on the website at www.europe.gov.uk.
The Government also continues to work in partnership
with the European Commission and European Parliament to co-ordinate
activities, including on implementation of Plan D. In particular,
the Govenuent is working closely with the Commission to make the
Europe Direct project a success. The first of these information
centres was launched on 7 July in Plymouth, and we look forward
to the remainder of the centres opening over the course of the
next year.
The Government will provide the Committee with
further updates on our EU communications initiatives upon request.
Your report recommended that more time should
be made available for debates on your committee's reports and
wider European issues. I understand that in this session 21 reports
by your committee have been debated on the floor of the House
of Lords. This compares well with 11 reports for all other committees
of the House.
25 July 2006
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