asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to safeguard the health and welfare of horses and ponies not destined for human consumption, when pharmaceutical companies find that the costs of obtaining market authorisation make it uneconomic to produce drugs specifically for equines. [HL1687]

Council Regulation 2377/90/EC requires the setting of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the active ingredients of veterinary medicinal products used in food-producing species. This is a consumer protection measure. The companies concerned must provide the data needed to set an MRL and in some cases, as for example has happened for phenylbutazone, this may not be done. Under European law, the horse is classified as a food producing animal. However, we have been guided by a statement by European Commission officials that, if a horse is not destined for human consumption, maximum residue limits are not required and, in those circumstances, products like phenylbutazone can continue to be used. Products should be clearly labelled as not to be used on any horse that might be intended for human consumption.As a further safeguard, the European Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products has developed a "minor species" policy which allows MRLs developed for major species such as cattle, sheep or pigs to be extended to horses and other species by providing relatively cheap comparative data. The objective is to ensure that a range of medicines will continue to be available for use in horses irrespective of whether or not they are intended for human consumption.Officials of the European Commission are aware of the concerns the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe about the availability of medicines for the horse and it is expected that proposals they have made will be discussed in Brussels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of the fish at present covered by the common fisheries policy live all the year round in the United Kingdom's Exclusive Economic Zone; what percentage of that figure represents fish which cross into other Exclusive Economic Zones; and at which times of year such fish so cross. [HL1584]

There are over 100 fish stocks for which the EC Fisheries Council sets total allowable catches (TACs). Only one of those stocks, Clyde herring, is found exclusively within the United Kingdom's fisheries limits. It accounts for well under 1 per cent. of the total fish subject to TACs under the Common Fisheries Policy. Part or all of each of the remaining stocks spend some or all of their lives outside UK fisheries limits.Typically, adult fish migrate against the direction of the prevailing currents to spawn and their eggs and larvae drift with the currents to reach nursery grounds, which can be considerable distances away. For many temperate species the main spawning migration occurs in the winter and early spring. This is followed by a more widespread feeding movement during the rest of the year which can also take fish from one national jurisdiction to another.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set the Pesticides Safety Directorate in 1998–99. [HL1696]

The Government have set the following targets for the Pesticides Safety Directorate in 1998–99.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in 1998–99. [HL1697]

The Government have set the following performance targets for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) for 1998–99:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 1998–99. [HL1698]

The Government have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency the following performance targets for 1998–99:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set for the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency in 1998–99. [HL1699]

With the agreement of the Secretary of State for Wales and my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Government have set the following targets for the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA) for 1998–99.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set the Meat Hygiene Service in 1998–99. [HL1700]

The Government have set the following performance targets for the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) for 1998–99:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for 1998–99. [HL1695]

The Government have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science the following performance targets for 1998–99:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets they have set the Central Science Laboratory for 1998–99. [HL1694]

The Government have set the Central Science Laboratory the following performance targets for 1998–99:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they compile on chemical or nuclear contamination incidents where there were potential food safety implications and whether this information is available to the public. [HL1693]

The Government compile annual reports on all such incidents and the Government's response to them. These reports are available to enquirers, free of charge. The latest report by MAFF's Food Safety Incident Response Team, entitled Food Protection 1997, has been placed in the Library of the House. It contains details of 230 incidents dealt with in 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 9 April (H.L. Deb., col. 850), whether they have been successful in putting on the agenda of the WTO Ministerial Conference in May the issue of establishment of European Union and WTO equivalents of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. [HL1532]

Setting farm animal welfare standards is not one of the WTO's responsibilities. It would not therefore be fruitful to propose the setting-up of an equivalent of the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) to advise the WTO. The setting up of FAWC equivalents is an approach that we regularly commend to those of the other EU member states that have not already done this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the position of the European Union with regard to animal welfare which is to be put forward at the WTO Ministerial Conference in May. [HL1531]

There is no agreement within the EU to raise this issue at the WTO Ministerial in May. The purpose of the May Ministerial is to adopt a general declaration paying tribute to the achievements of the multilateral trading system over the last 50 years and, in relation to preparing future WTO negotiations, to do no more than set the procedures in train.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to implement the recommendation in the 1997 Farm Animal Welfare Council report that they should not allow GATT WTO arrangements to prevent the banning of imports of shell eggs and egg products into the European Union from those countries in which conventional battery cages are still used. [HL1530]

The Government, under their Presidency of the Council of Ministers, have opened up a discussion aimed at formulating an EU strategy on promoting higher global standards of farm animal welfare standards, including in relation to products of animal origin (for example eggs) being imported into the Union. We are pleased to have launched what we consider to be an important and overdue initiative at the EU level.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the review of the arrangements for reporting surveys on pesticide residues in food has been completed. [HL1635]

The Government are committed to informing the public about all food safety matters. Following the changes announced last year, and the new arrangements announced for veterinary drug surveys, we have now agreed to further improvements in the reporting of surveillance results for pesticide residues surveys. To continue to improve openness and information to consumers, the brand names of products tested in future pesticide residue surveillance exercises will, subject to some minor exceptions, be published on a regular basis.The UK has in place a pesticide residues surveillance programme to fulfil its Community obligations to monitor pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, cereals and products of animal origin. This programme is undertaken each year under the auspices of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues. The results are published in the Working Party's annual report, although any results of public interest are published earlier together with any necessary advice to consumers.The publication of brand names will require some restructuring of the pesticides surveillance programme to ensure that surveys are representative of particular produce on the market. The new arrangements will, therefore, apply for surveys conducted from 1998 onwards. As with the other programmes there will be certain minor exceptions, such as surveys whose sample are pooled, where publicising brand information would be inappropriate.Planned surveys for residues of pesticides will continue to be announced in advance, as has been practice for some years. However, the sheer scale of this programme precludes releasing the brands to be sampled in advance.We are committed to giving consumers the maximum possible information on the presence of pesticide residues in food and will ensure that this is provided with appropriate advice on the public health significance of any results. Of course, we will make every effort to ensure the fairness of any tests and not seek to select one manufacturer or source over another. We believe the new arrangements will allow consumers to make a more informed choice about the food that they buy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the review which they conducted concerning the dissemination of information with regard to military assistance provided to other nations. [HL1660]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to my noble friend Lord Gladwyn of Clee on 27 February 1998 (H.L. Deb., cols. WA 123–24).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 16 March

We are making appropriate arrangements to appoint an independent body to monitor and evaluate the trial.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have sought the modification of the data requirements of the draft Biocidal Products Directive; with what result; and whether any modification which has been made will reduce the registration costs which would arise as a result of the implementation of the directive. [HL1608]

Throughout the negotiations of the Biocidal Products Directive, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who led negotiations for the United Kingdom, sought to ensure that the cost provisions of the directive were proportionate to risk. The UK was successful in introducing simplified procedures for dealing with low risk products and for handling "frame formulation"—i.e. specifications for groups of similar products. These will help to reduce costs.The UK was also successful in ensuring that an "escape" clause was written into the directive to minimise the data requirements. This provides that information not necessary owing to the nature of a particular biocidal product or its proposed uses need not be supplied, but without compromising the risk assessment that ensures a high level of protection for humans and the environment. This will further help to reduce costs.The Finnish authorities are currently producing guidance, under contract to the European Commission, on the application of the data requirements. The HSE is seeking to ensure that the guidance takes full account of the flexibility which the directive provides so that costs are minimised.HSE is encouraging industry to play its part by lobbying the European Commission and other member states. HSE has discussed with industry the possibility of their forming task forces to share data to help reduce costs. HSE continues to work closely with industry over implementation of the Biocidal Products Directive. All this action taken together will help to ensure costs are kept to a minimum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:If the data proposals of the draft Biocidal Products Directive proceed, what contingency plans they have made to support or compensate firms which cannot afford to register their substances or products, including finding employment for workers displaced. [HL1609]

The text of the directive has been agreed by the Council and the European Parliament. The data requirements of the directive are complex and technical guidance on their practical application is being prepared by Finland, under contract to the European Commission. The specification for the work stipulates that other member states and industry specialists must be consulted on the guidance.The consultation process has just started. In commenting on the draft guidance produced by Finland, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on behalf of the United Kingdom, has underlined the importance of flexibility in data requirements. It is understood that the biocides industry—through its European trade body, CEFIC—has commented in a similar vein. HSE will be involved in subsequent negotiations and will be seeking to ensure that the guidance reflects a flexible approach. HSE will remain in close touch with industry throughout this process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to protect public health from the possible increase in infections and infestations that may result from any reduction in available products and substances, or the lack of availability in some areas of such products and substances, as a result of the implementation of the Biocidal Products Directive. [HL1610]

A primary aim of the Biocidal Products Directive, which is due to be implemented by May 2000, is to ensure that biocidal products provide a high level of protection for humans and the environment. All biocidal products on the European Union market will have to be authorised for use. In order to gain authorisation for products they wish to place on the market, companies will be required to submit data to show that the product is sufficiently effective; has no unacceptable effects on the target organisms; has no unacceptable effects itself or as a result of its residues on human or animal health; and, has no unacceptable effects itself or as a result of its residues on the environment. It will be for industry to decide which products it wishes to place on the market.Existing products within the scope of the directive will be able to stay on the market until the active substances they contain have been reviewed under the new arrangements. The directive gives 10 years for all existing active substances to be reviewed.Should an emergency arise which may affect public health, there are provisions in the directive for member states to grant a temporary authorisation of a biocidal product because of an unforeseen danger which cannot be contained by other means.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Waterloo International and Ashford International stations are Open Access stations, available to any train operator licensed to operate international passenger train services. [HL1633]

Any international passenger train operator may apply for access to Waterloo International and Ashford International stations and if access is refused may, under the terms of the Railways Regulations 1992, appeal to the International Rail Regulator, whose decision is binding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they plan to take into account in assessments of capacity of urban traffic management schemes the overall capacity and benefit of people moved as opposed to the overall capacity of vehicles. [HL1651]

The assessment of a traffic management scheme in urban areas normally rests with the local highway authority. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has issued guidelines to stress the importance of sound assessment of the schemes prior to implementation. They cover the operational, economic, environmental, safety modelling and planning aspects, and should take into account factors such as the capacity available to, and the potential benefits to be gained by, different road user groups.In the case of bus-priority schemes, for example, the capacity for buses should be combined with estimates of bus occupancy (allowing for additional patronage as a result of transfer from other modes) in assessing the overall benefits.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Angela Eagle, on 27 January (HC,

The following table shows the information which the department has received from allotment authorities about these cases. The proposed new use is not necessarily a factor which is taken into account in deciding whether to grant consent for the sale or appropriation to another use of allotment land. In some cases, the proposed alternative use may require planning consent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which allotment sites have been subject to closure procedure from 14 January to date. [HL1673]

The Secretary of State has given his consent, under Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, for the disposal of the following statutory allotment sites in England since 14 January 1998:

• 27 January: Bolton Road, Windsor
• 9 February: Clough Road, Rotherham
• 4 March: Longbarrow, Bournemouth
• 4 March: Higher Lane, Liverpool
• 6 March: Duke Street, Sutton
• 12 March: Slingfield Road, Birmingham
• 26 March: Mansbridge Road, Southampton
• 27 March: Barnard Castle
• 30 March: Yardley Cemetery, Birmingham
• 2 April: Ocean Street, Plymouth
• 2 April: Moss Hall Lane, Lytham St. Annes
• 7 April: Moreland Road, Gosport
• 14 April: Millworth Lane, Sheffield
• 14 April: Pakenham
• 14 April: Pakenham

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many meetings of the Firearms Consultative Committee have been attended by Mr. Anthony Burden, the Chief Constable of South Wales Constabulary and Chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers' England, Wales and Northern Ireland Firearms Explosives Licensing Sub-Committee; from how many meetings he has been absent since his appointment; and whether he has made requests for a representative to attend in his place. [HL1630]

As I indicated in my Written Answer of 17 March 1998 (WA 192), a record of yearly attendance at meetings of the Firearms Consultative Committee is given in the Committee's Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library. Members attend on an individual basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to bring to justice those responsible for crimes committed within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom in support of the political programme of the IRA before Easter 1998. [HL1594]

Every effort will continue to be made to bring to justice perpetrators of crimes in the United Kingdom in connection with the affairs of Northern Ireland, regardless of when they were committed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to continue to seek to bring to justice those responsible for crimes committed outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom in support of the political programme on the Nazi Party before June 1945. [HL1593]

The Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit will continue to consider evidence relating to possible offences falling under the War Crimes Act 1991. The cases of 376 people have already been considered by the War Crimes Unit. Of those investigated, 118 are dead, and 255 cases have been investigated and the evidence considered to be insufficient for charges to be brought. In these cases, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service have agreed that no further action should be taken, although, should fresh evidence emerge, cases could be re-opened. The Attorney-General entered a nolle prosequi (permanent stay on the prosecution) in one case due to the defendant's failing mental health. This was neither a conviction, discharge nor acquittal. The defendant has since died. One case is still under active investigation and in a second case committal proceedings, under the War Crimes Act 1991, are currently in progress against an individual who has been charged with five counts of murder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they are giving to the future remuneration of working peers below the age of 60

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House the responses received by them to the Green Paper Who Decides?

Over 3,000 responses have been received to the Green Paper. In accordance with usual practice, however, a list of those individuals and organisations who responded will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses shortly. Because of the number and volume of these responses it would be impractical to place them in the Libraries of both Houses.

None.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in a reformed House of Lords lacking hereditary peers, they expect working peers below the retirement age to receive the same salary as Members of the House of Commons. [HL1546]

The removal of the rights of hereditary peers to sit and vote in this House has no implications for the current arrangements for reimbursing working peers' expenses.

asked the Leader of the House:Further to his Written Answer on 27 April

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to improve the legal protection available to women against dismissal as a result of pregnancy. [HL1533]

It is automatically unfair under the Employment Rights Act 1996 for an employer to dismiss a woman because she is pregnant, or for any other reason connected with her pregnancy or childbirth. Such a dismissal may also amount to unlawful discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will introduce measures to protect pregnant women against dismissal for taking time off for ante-natal care. [HL1534]

It is already automatically unfair for an employer to dismiss an employee for asserting her right to time off for ante-natal care. Moreover, detrimental treatment on grounds of pregnancy may amount to unlawful sex discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications for Education Action Zone status have now been received; and [HL1616]What applications for Education Action Zone status have been made by local education authorities; and [HL1617]What applications for Education Action Zone status have been made by non local education authority interests; and [HL1618]What applications for Education Action Zone status has been made by commercial or business interests. [HL1619]

Some 60 applications have been received and are currently being assessed. We cannot comment on individual applications until that assessment has been completed. An announcement on the successful applicants will be made in June.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date they will announce the successful bids to establish Education Action Zones which will form the first phase of five zones starting in September 1998. [HL1620]

We expect to announce in June the 12 zones which will start in September 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date they will announce the successful bids to establish Education Action Zones which will form the second phase of twenty Zones starting in January 1999. [HL1621]

We expect to announce in June the 13 zones which will start in January 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which are those areas of the country where, if a ballot to end selection at a grammar school were successfully triggered by a petition, it would be deemed to be a whole local education authority ballot. [HL1639]What specific criteria would be applied to determine the area within which parents would be eligible to vote to end selection at each selective grammar school excluding those which would qualify for whole local education authority ballots. [HL1640]

The School Standards and Framework Bill currently before Parliament provides for the detailed arrangements for grammar school ballots, including the definition of whole area and other ballots, to be specified in regulations which will be drawn up in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Vital Statistics Branch first started to monitor Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. [HL1606]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the report on pensions policy by the committee set up by the Department of Social Security under the chairmanship of Tom Ross. [HL1538]

To inform our review of pensions, the independent Pension Provision Group have been asked to determine the current level of pension provision in the UK, and likely future trends. The group's report will bring together in one document an up-to-date analysis of all forms of pension provision. It will provide an authoritative basis upon which we will be able to shape our plans to ensure that today's and tomorrow's pensioners have a decent income in retirement.We expect the report to be published soon.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the impact on National Insurance contribution rates of restoring the original intention of SERPS of enabling contributors to qualify for a pension of 25 per cent. of earnings between the lower earnings limits and the upper earnings limits at the end of their working lives. [HL1539]

The information requested is set out in the following table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the cost in terms of contribution rates of uprating the basic pension on an index mid-way between prices and earnings, assuming that the lower earnings limits and the upper earnings limits are linked to earnings. [HL1542]

The information requested is set out in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the key targets for 1998–99 for the Medical Devices Agency. [HL1748]

We have agreed the agency's key targets for 1998–99, and placed copies in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they can explain the delay in publication of most of the reports to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) of the country rapporteurs, thematic rapporteurs and working groups, which still remain unpublished two weeks after the UNHRC's 1998 session began. [HL1373]

We understand that the delay in publishing reports to the Commission on Human Rights was a result of mounting pressure of work at the Office of the High Commissioner. The Head of the UK Delegation to the Commission has raised this issue with the High Commissioner. In the event, the Secretariat were able to release all documents before the relevant agenda item was opened for discussion. We are now looking carefully at ways of strengthening the Office of the High Commissioner, a central theme of the Secretary-General's Track II reform programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Prime Minister visited the Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem during his recent visit to Israel. [HL1570]

The Prime Minister visited Yad Vashem during his visit to Israel. He was deeply moved by this memorial to the suffering of the Jewish people in the Holocaust.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as holders of the Presidency of the European Union, they will make representations to the Government of Malaysia about the refoulment of Achehnese asylum-seekers, and the denial to the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees' Representative in Kuala Lumpur of access to the Achehnese held in detention pending refoulement. [HL1573]

The Foreign Secretary has, in his national capacity, raised both issues with his Malaysian counterpart and urged Malaysia to allow the UNHCR access to individuals of concern.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as holders of the Presidency of the European Union, they will issue a statement concerning the demands of the six Tibetan hunger strikers in New Delhi, as the United Nations Secretary-General's spokesperson and the High Commissioner for Human Rights have done recently. [HL1574]

As Presidency we issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on 24 April 1998 appealing to the Tibetan hunger strikers to call off their fast. We take every opportunity to raise our concerns about Tibet with the Chinese authorities. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister last did so himself when he met the Chinese Premier on 2 April. In view of the EU's special concerns about Tibet, a delegation of EU Ambassadors in Beijing are visiting Tibet from 1 to 10 May in order to make an assessment of the situation there.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the appeal to Cuba by the Pope for a general amnesty for political prisoners; and, if so, whether they are making representations. [HL1631]

The UK supports the Pope's appeal and, as EU Presidency, co-ordinated an EU declaration on the release of prisoners, calling for the liberation back into society of all those imprisoned for the peaceful expression of their political views. This declaration was delivered to the Cuban authorities. We await a formal response.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their attitude to the United States economic blockade of Cuba; whether there exists any international authority or approval for this; and whether they will use their good offices to help secure its removal. [HL1632]

The UK and EU believe constructive dialogue and co-operation, not isolation, is the way to promote change towards pluralist democracy in Cuba. Since 1996, we have voted in favour of the Cuban resolution at the UN condemning the US blockade. We and the EU particularly reject the extra-territorial extension of US sanctions legislation to non-US companies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 27–28 April. [HL1701]

1. The General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 27 April adopted the A points, and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 30 March-3 April. Copies of the documents listing the A points and resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.2. The Council invited COREPER to continue work on preparations to the EU/Canada and EU/US Summits on 14 May and 18 May respectively, including taking forward an EU position on transatlantic trade and on US sanctions legislation.3. The Presidency reported on progress on Agenda 2000 negotiations. Some Foreign Ministers commented on political aspects of the dossier, including the Own Resources system. The Council agreed how to handle European Parliament involvement.4. The Council heard a report from Commissioner van den Broek on the Commission's exploratory contacts with Turkey on the elements of the proposed European strategy for Turkey identified at Luxembourg. It reaffirmed the importance it attaches to a successful Association Council and invited the Presidency and Commission to continue the necessary preparation on the European strategy to that end. Most member states noted the importance of releasing the financial protocol for Turkey to allow full implementation of the strategy.5. The Presidency briefed partners on the recent visit of the Prime Minister to the Middle East. The Council welcomed the agreement of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Arafat to meet US Secretary of State Albright in London on 4 May, as well as additional meetings of all three with the Presidency. These meetings represent an important opportunity to reinvigorate negotiations. The EU strongly urged the parties to approach the London meetings with the necessary determination to find a compromise along the lines put to them by the US. The EU is ready to help facilitate progress.6. The Presidency briefed the Council on Northern Ireland and thanked EU partners for their constructive support, including through Objective One funding.7. On Kosovo, the Council expressed concern at the mounting violence and reiterated its calls for restraint from both sides. It called for an urgent dialogue between the parties without pre-conditions, and with international involvement, to help secure a lasting solution. The Council regretted that President Milosevic had thus far failed to promote a peaceful settlement and passed a regulation implementing at the Community level those measures against the FRY agreed by common position on 19 March. The Council agreed that further measures against the FRY would be taken in the event of continued failure to address international concerns. But the Council also underlined a wish to develop relations between FRY and the rest of Europe in return for a real willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.8. On Montenegro, the Council welcomed positive developments in political and economic reform, and agreed to allocate an initial sum of 3 million ecu to help the new Montenegrin Government meet outstanding social welfare commitments.9. The Council also considered its regional approach to the development of contractual relations between the EU and countries in the western Balkans region. It concluded that the Commission should look closely at the feasibility of improved trade relations with Albania, and how best to implement existing arrangements with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It considered that the time was not yet right for further deepening of contractual links with FRY, Bosnia or Croatia; and called into question Croatia's continued eligibility for EU trade preferences unless it improved its performance against agreed EU conditionality.10. The Presidency reported on preparations for the EU/Russia Summit, which will be held in Birmingham on 15 May.11. The fourth EU/Slovakia and EU/Romania Association Councils took place on 28 April. The meetings took stock of the past year's developments in the enlargement process, and Slovakia and Romania's preparations for accession, notably their progress towards meeting the Copenhagen criteria for membership. The EU/Slovakia Council paid particular attention to the shortcomings in Slovakia's democratic institutions. The EU/Romania Council concentrated on economic reform.12. The state of relations between the EU and Slovakia and Romania under the Europe Agreements was noted, particularly recent progress and problems in trade and agriculture.13. The joint dinner on 27 April discussed the following issues: strengthening of democratic institutions, relations with neighbouring countries, including regional co-operation, and border management.14. The tenth EC/Malta Association Council met on 28 April, and adopted a Joint Declaration on future relations, including a political commitment to establish a Free Trade Area. In the margins, two further joint declarations were adopted: on political dialogue and on Justice and Home Affairs co-operation. Over lunch, member states discussed the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for May; and list the major European Union events for the next six months. [HL1731]

This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.