Written Answers
Monday, 30th November 1998.
Yugoslavia: Exceptions To Arms Embargo
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will allow the export of armoured vehicles for use by the United States and British Embassies in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the export of armoured vehicles and other non-lethal military equipment to the Kosovo Diplomatic Observers Mission (KDOM) in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [HL92]
The Government have allowed the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of eight armoured Land Rovers, for use by the US Embassy in Belgrade, and a further two armoured Land Rovers and an armoured Rover saloon for use by the British Embassy in Belgrade. We attach the highest priority to ensuring the safety of staff and personnel at our Embassy in Belgrade, and we rightly recognise that other diplomatic missions, like the US Embassy in Belgrade, attach high priority to the protection of their staff. We were therefore glad to be able to allow these exports, which are not caught by arms embargoes against the FRY.In advance of the OSCE's establishment of the Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM), the Government have allowed also the export of up to 30 armoured Land Rovers and other essential and non-lethal military equipment for use by observers at the British Embassy in Belgrade (known as the Kosovo Diplomatic Observers Mission, or KDOM). It is clearly important that British and other staff at KDOM should be protected in the course of their duties, which include monitoring the enforcement of the arms embargo against the FRY. These personnel will, in due course, become members of KVM. The UN Sanctions Committee has raised no objection to these exports.
Eu: Forthcoming Council Business
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for December; and list the major European Union events for the next six months. [HL95]
See below.
| Forecast of Business: December | ||
| Date | Location | Event |
| December 1998 | ||
| 1 | Brussels | Transport Council (continuation from 30 November) |
| 1 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council |
Forecast of Business: December
| ||
Date
| Location
| Event
|
| 1–2 | Brussels | Social Affairs Council |
| 1 | Brussels | Joint meeting of the ESA and ECOFIN Councils |
| 3–4 | Brussels | Justice & Home Affairs Council |
| 4 | Brussels | Education Council |
| 7 | Brussels | Internal Market Council |
| 7–8 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 10 | Brussels | Research Council |
| 11–12 | Vienna | European Council |
| 14–16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 17–18 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
| 21 | Brussels | Environment Council |
The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
- December 1: ECOFIN Council
- Employment
- Preparation for Stage 3 of EMU
- Follow-up to the declaration of 2 May
- Stability and convergence programmes
- Agenda 2000
- Taxes
- December 1: Joint Meeting of the Social Affairs and ECOFIN Councils
- Report from the Presidency
- Commission first draft of the 1999 Employment Guidelines (debate)
- Joint report on Employment 1998 (adoption)
- December 1 and 2: Social Affairs Council
- Report from the Presidency on the preparation of the European Council (Vienna)
- Commission first draft of the 1999 Employment Guidelines
- Joint Report on Employment 1998 (debate)
- Employment Rates Report
- Draft Council Directive on employee involvement within the European Company—political agreement
- Follow-up to the Beijing Conference on Women (The Council will take note of the annual Report)
- Second phase of the Community vocational training programme Leonardo Da Vinci (legal basis: Article 127) (oral report from the Presidency)
- Extension of 1408/71 (students and other insured persons) (political agreement)
- Amended proposal for a Directive on the protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres (legal basis: Article 118A) (political agreement)
- Proposal for a Council Decision relating to the Conclusion of an agreement between the EC and the Council of Europe (European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia) (legal basis: Article 7(3) of Council Regulation No. 1035/97) (political agreement)
- Amended proposal for a Council Directive amending for the second time Directive 90/394/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work (legal basis: Article 118A TEC) (political agreement)
- Mid-term report on the Community programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work (1996–2000) (debate)
- Amended proposal for a decision on the promotion of European pathways for work-linked training, including apprenticeships (legal basis: Article 127) (political agreement)
- December 3 and 4: Justice & Home Affairs Council
- Convention and protocol
- Action plan to create an area of liberty, security and justice
- Preparations for the entry into force of Amsterdam
- Legal action on European solidarity
- European migration strategy
- Regulation on countries subject to visas
- Enlargement: evaluation
- Determination and classification of the Schengen legal situation
- Incorporation of the Schengen information system in the EU legal framework
- Progress report on work on the Convention on the admission of third-country nationals
- Council Decision on monitoring the implementation of the instruments adopted in the field of asylum
- Joint action on the approximation of legislation to combat counterfeiting (adoption)
- Explanatory report on the Second Protocol to the Convention on the protection of financial interests (adoption)
- Joint action on money laundering and confiscation
- Joint action on combating corruption in the private sector (if not adopted in September)
- Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters
- Revision of the Brussels and Lugano Conventions (progress report)
- Rome II: Convention on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations (progress report)
- Implementation of the CIS Convention
- Driving disqualifications: explanatory report
- Implementation of the joint action on synthetic drugs
- Implementation of the joint action on the approximation of drug laws
- Ratification of previous conventions (appeal to the member states in line with recommendations 13 and 14 of the Action Plan and Cardiff follow-up)
- Start-up report
- Decision extending the mandate to terrorism
- Document on the threat posed by terrorism
- IRAQ: final report
- Expert working party report on best practice
- Report on measures to combat counterfeiting of the EURO
- Council Resolution on the prevention of organised crime with reference to the establishment of a comprehensive strategy for combating it: adoption
- OC annual report
- Report to the European Council on implementation of the action plan to combat OC
- Report on implementation of the Resolution on hooligans
- Report on implementation of the Resolution of 18 December 1997 on priorities in the fields of justice and home affairs from 1 January 1998 until the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty
- Article 18—Committee meeting (possible)
- December 4: Education Council
- Proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing the second phase of the Community action programme "Socrates" (possible common position)
- Second phase of the Community vocational training programme Leonardo Da Vinci (legal basis: Article 127) (possible common position)
- Proposal for a Council decision adopting the third phase of the trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (possible adoption)
- (Possible.) Action plan for the implementation of the Green Paper "Educational, vocational training, research: obstacles to transnational mobility" (presentation by the Commission)
- (Possible.) Proposal for a Council recommendation on the statute of mobile students (included the transfer of Scholarships) (presentation by the Commission)
- Report by the Commission on the implementation of pilot projects in the context of the objectives of the White Paper on education and training, "teaching and learning: towards the learning society" (presentation by the Commission and debate)
- 1999 National Employment Action Plans (debate)
- December 7: Internal Market Council
- European Company Statute
- Free Movement of Goods Intervention Mechanism
- Proposal for an amending Directive concerning liability for defective products
- Internal Market and Cardiff process of economic reform—presidency report
- Proposal for a directive on certain legal aspects of electronic commerce (presentation by the Commission)
- December 7–8: General Affairs Council
- Agenda 2000
- Enlargement
- Preparation of Amsterdam Treaty Implementation Russia
- Human Rights: 50th Anniversary Celebration 10 December (possible)
- Preparation of the Vienna European Council
- Asylum and Immigration Task Force
- Council Working Methods
- Western Balkans
- Middle East Peace Process
- Cuba
- South Africa
- Switzerland
- Draft Regulation GSP for 1999–2000
- Transatlantic Relations
- December 10: Research Council
- (Possible.) Fifth EC RTD Framework programme (final adoption)
- (Possible.) Fifth Euratom Research Framework programme (final adoption)
- (Possible.) Fifth EC and Euratom Framework programmes—Specific programmes (final adoption)
- (Possible.) International Co-operation (possible signature/conclusion of agreements with pre-accession CEECs and Cyprus, and other third countries)
- December 11–12: European Council
- No agenda yet available
- December 14–16: Agriculture Council
- No agenda yet available
- December 17–18: Fisheries Council
- Proposal for a Regulation setting TACs and Quotas for 1999 and related legislation (adoption)
- (Possible.) The Future of the Common Fisheries Policy (2002) (oral report by the Commission)
- Council Regulation on the common organisation of the markets in the fisheries sector (presentation by the Commission)
- (Possible.) Funding of the collection of data of the common fisheries policy (presentation by the Commission)
- Modification of Regulation 3699 on Structural Funds for Fisheries (IFOP) (presentation by the Commission)
- December 21: Environment Council
- (Possible.) Draft proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending directive 88/77/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles (heavy goods vehicles) (common position)
- Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (political agreement: EP Opinion expected in February)
- (Possible.) Proposal for a Council Directive on ozone-depleting substances (common position)
- Proposal for a Council Decision on the monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars in the Community (common position)
- Proposal for a Council Directive on the labelling of fuel consumption of passenger cars (common position)
- Community strategy on climate change: follow-up to the Buenos Aires (Council conclusions)
- Proposal for a Council Directive on "end-of-life vehicles" (common position)
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.
European Calendar: December 1998—May 1999
| ||
Date
| Location
| Event
|
December 1998
| ||
| 1 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council |
| 1 | Brussels | Transport Council |
| 1 | Brussels | Social Affairs and ECOFIN Council |
| 1 | Vienna | Parliamentary Heads |
| 2 | Brussels | Social Affairs Council |
| 2–3 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
| 3–4 | Brussels | Justice & Home Affairs Council |
| 4 | Brussels | Education Council |
| 7 | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 7 | Brussels | Internal Market Council |
| 7–8 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 10 | Brussels | Research Council |
| 11 | Vienna | Political Committee |
| 11–12 | Vienna | European Council |
| 14–16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 14–18 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 17–18 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
| 21 | Brussels | Environment Council |
January 1999
| ||
| 1 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 11–15 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 14 | Brussels | Fisheries Council (possible) |
| 18–19 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 18 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 19 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 25 | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 25–26 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 27–28 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
European Calendar: December 1998-May 1999
| ||
Date
| Location
| Event
|
February 1999
| ||
| 4–6 | Bonn | Ministers for Labour & Social Affairs (Informal) |
| 8 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 8–12 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 11–12 | Berlin | Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal) |
| 18 | Brussels | Research Council (possible) |
| 22 | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 22–23 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 22–23 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 24–25 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
| 25 | Brussels | Internal Market |
March 1999
| ||
| 9 | Brussels | Social Affairs Council |
| 11–12 | Brussels | Environment Council |
| 12 | Brussels | Justice & Home Affairs Council (possible) |
| 13–14 | Reinhartshausen | Foreign Ministers (Informal) |
| 15 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 15–16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 18 | Brussels | Education Council |
| 22 | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 22–23 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 24–25 | Brussels | Special European Council |
| 24–25 | Frankfurt | Asia-Europe Finance Ministers |
| 25 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
| 29 | Brussels | Transport Council |
| 29–30 | Berlin | Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers |
April 1999
| ||
| 13 | Luxembourg | Consumer Affairs Council |
| 15–16 | Stuttgart | Barcelona III |
| 16–18 | Dresden | ECOFIN (Informal) |
| 19–20 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council |
| 22 | Luxembourg | Telecommunications Council |
| 23–25 | Mecklenburg | Environment Ministers (Informal) |
| 24–25 | Luxembourg | NATO Summit |
| 26–27 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council |
| 29 | Luxembourg | Industry Council |
May 1999
| ||
| 6 | Brussels | EU-ACP Ministerial meeting |
| 10 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 10 | Brussels | Social Affairs Council |
| 10 | Bremen | WEU Council |
| 10–11 | Berlin | Trade Ministers (Informal) |
| 11 | Brussels | Energy Council |
| 17–18 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 17–18 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 18–19 | Weimar | Culture Ministers (Informal) |
| 20 | Brussels | Research Council |
| 21 | Brussels | Development Council |
| 25 | Brussels | Joint ECOFIN and Labour & Social Affairs Council |
| 27 | Brussels | Youth Council |
| 27–28 | Brussels | Justice & Home Affairs Council |
| 31 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 30 May–1 June | Dresden | Agriculture Ministers (Informal) |
International Criminal Court
asked Her Majesty's Government:When the UK will sign the Statute of the International Criminal Court. [HL121]
Our Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York will sign the Statute of the Court today on behalf of the UK.
Argentina: Arms Embargo
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there have been any new exceptions to the arms embargo on Argentina. [HL120]
Licences have recently been issued to allow the following exports:
Rural Areas: Policy
asked Her Majesty's Government:To detail their policies for rural areas in England. [HL119]
When we announced the Urban White Paper on 20 October, we said we would be making an announcement shortly about our policies for rural areas.We have introduced a range of new policies to implement our commitment to sustainable development and to foster a modern, inclusive society with fairness and opportunity for all. Rural communities are an integral part of our vision for the whole country and are already benefiting from our new approach. Our manifesto pledges on education, health, crime, and the economy apply just as much to rural areas as to urban. Rural areas have many distinctive features and needs. In our manifesto we pledged to recognise these special needs and to stop the decline in rural public and transport services, give greater protection to wildlife, and give greater freedom for people to explore our open countryside.Already we have taken action to support these pledges. We have given an extra £50 million a year to rural transport; given greater protection to the countryside by increasing the target for housing development on brownfield sites; and announced our decision to bring together the Rural Development Commission and Countryside Commission to create the new Countryside Agency to champion rural England and the English countryside. As a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, expenditure on DETR countryside programmes will increase very significantly—from £128 million this year to £174 million in 2001–02. We are committed to restoring confidence in the farming industry and have just announced an additional aid package for the UK livestock sector that will be worth some £120 million. We have also secured the lifting of the ban on beef exports. At a regional level, the new Regional Development Agencies will bring a more strategic approach to regional development taking full account of their rural areas.As our range of new policies bear fruit we are determined to ensure that they come together in a holistic way to fit rural circumstances. Our vision is of a living, working, accessible and sustainable countryside, with thriving rural communities where public services are properly supported, which is contributing fully to the life and economy of the nation, and where the natural and cultural heritage is conserved and enhanced for everyone to enjoy.We now propose to set out more details of our vision, and what we are doing to achieve it in a White Paper on rural England. My right honourable friends the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions have therefore agreed that preparation of this new White Paper will be led jointly by our two departments. We will also be working closely with colleagues in many other departments to ensure that government activity across the board is tailored and integrated to reflect rural circumstances and the distinctive contribution that rural areas make to all our lives. We will be involving the Countryside Agency and the Regional Development Agencies in drawing up the White Paper.The White Paper will explore how our policies on matters such as the economy, health, transport, education, housing, crime, agriculture, energy efficiency and planning will support sustainable rural communities and how rural areas can contribute to the fulfilment of the Government's objectives in these matters. It will look at how our development and regeneration policies will assist deprived rural communities, and give rural people the opportunity to participate fully in our society. It will examine the way we are conserving and enhancing the countryside as a resource and amenity for all to appreciate and enjoy. Most importantly it will consider how our overall environmental, social and economic objectives will be integrated in rural areas.The White Paper will assess what more needs to be done by government, other organisations and individuals. We are determined to ensure that the links between towns, cities and rural areas are properly considered. Work on the Rural White Paper will complement that on the Urban White Paper.There has already been much debate about the countryside. We will continue to listen to views and engage in discussions as we prepare the White Paper. We are sure many organisations and people will wish to contribute.Rural England is a precious national resource for everyone. Our White Paper will set out a positive new strategy for the future.
Cycling In Royal Parks
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will encourage local authorities as well as the Royal Parks administration to encourage cycling by erecting cycle racks at major tourist attractions and shopping areas in London. [HL3]
The Government aim to encourage cycling as an effective and environmentally friendly means of transport and have issued Traffic Management and Parking Guidance to the London local authorities which makes it clear that they need to have particular regard to the needs of cyclists and for cycle parking. A copy of the guidance is in the Library. I understand that the Royal Parks Agency is also happy to consider providing cycle racks where there is a demand and it would help visitors to the park.
Bull Bars
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the results of their consultation on bull bars. [HL78]
We hope to be in a position to make an announcement on bull bars early next year.
Road Safety Strategy And Targets
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish the new road safety targets and strategy for the period up to 2010. [HL76]
The Government are aiming to publish the strategy and targets early next year.