European Committee, 11 Feb 2003

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Official Report 270KB pdf

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Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)

Item 3 is on pre and post-council scrutiny. We will start with the pre-council briefings.

The recommendation is that we should simply note the briefing on the general affairs and external relations council of 24 and 25 February. I must point out that the papers that are before us contain a great deal of detail, which is to be welcomed. It is important to recognise that, by coming before the committee, all of the papers go into the public domain. I understand from the clerks that people are accessing information on the web and seeking clarification and further information from us. We sometimes simply note information, but that does not mean that the information is not valuable. Although we do not discuss every document, they all go into the public domain and are available to interested parties throughout Scotland. That is an important part of our job.

The recommendation is that we note the briefing on the economic and financial affairs councils of 18 February and 7 March. We should also note the briefing on the competitiveness council of 3 March, and we should welcome the depth of the information.

On the briefing on the employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council of 6 March, it is suggested that, as we are involved in the issues, we should welcome the depth of the material. It is suggested that we note the discussion on the European employment strategy and ask to be kept informed of progress, note the information on the UK's national action plan on social inclusion and write to the Social Justice Committee to inform it of that agenda item. We should also highlight the policy debate on gender mainstreaming. We covered that issue this afternoon with the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning. Do members agree to those suggestions?

Members indicated agreement.

We understand that the date for the transport, telecommunications and energy council has been changed so, through no fault of the Executive, information is not available at this point.

On the briefing on the environment council, the suggestion is that we should welcome the depth of the material and note the potential implications of the environmental liability directive, the new bathing water directive and the chemicals legislation. We should also write to the Transport and the Environment Committee to update it on the issues. Do members agree to those suggestions?

Members indicated agreement.

The clerk has written a note to point out that there is a slight typographical error in the table that he has prepared on the briefings: the information on the agriculture and fisheries council is for the meeting of 20 and 21 February, not 20 and 21 March. The recommendation is that we ask the Executive to keep the committee abreast of progress on decoupling and compulsory modulation with the common agricultural policy. Finally, we should welcome the material on the justice and home affairs council of 27 to 28 February. Are those suggestions agreed to?

Members indicated agreement.

We have two post-council briefings. The recommendation is that we welcome the depth of material that has been provided on the general affairs and external relations council of 27 to 28 January. For the ECOFIN council meeting of 21 January, it is recommended that we welcome the depth of material that has been provided and the alternative arrangements that were made to provide delayed material. Do members agree to those recommendations?

Members indicated agreement.

I think that the reports are excellent. What worries me, however, is not what is in the reports, but what is not in them. In particular, I am concerned that there appears to be no mechanism in the Parliament for discussing the general agreement on trade in services. As members know, the consultation exercise that was undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry concluded on 3 January. There are a number of areas that are within the competency of the Scottish Parliament, but there seems to be no mechanism that will allow us to debate and discuss that issue. How will that be tackled by the European Committee?

That is an interesting point, which we have discussed previously. I recall that it was on the agenda of one of the European Council meetings, but we were not able to discuss the matter. I am not sure why it is not on any forthcoming agendas. Perhaps there are no imminent decisions to be taken on it.

I know that there will be meetings in March. I have dates for them, because I have been following the issue quite closely. The Parliament should not miss an opportunity to offer input. I appreciate the fact that all the negotiations are conducted primarily through Westminster; however, because of the competencies of the Scottish Parliament, we need to find out whether there is a mechanism that will enable us to discuss the matter. I would appreciate the clerks' looking into that.

I invite the clerks to look into the matter to find out when that issue is due to appear on a council agenda and what information can be made available to us for that. Would that be okay?

Yes. Thank you.