Scrutiny
I have an announcement to make. We have taken forward our concerns about document SP1406, on electrical waste. I ask members to note the contents of our letter. We will return to the matter when we receive a reply from the Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture. Catherine Stihler MEP has recorded her thanks for the initiative that we have taken. She says that it will be useful to her in her role as a member of the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy, which will deal with that document shortly. Like the initiative that we took on the postal services, this is a good example of how our scrutiny work can have a practical application.
Page 1 of the note lists six documents that we are recommending for priority scrutiny and that should be included in our consideration of the common fisheries policy. They are:
SP 1523 (EC Ref No COM(2000) 545 final)
SP 1611 (EC Ref No 12504/00 COM(2000) 684 final)
SP 1612 (EC Ref No 12754/00 COM(2000) 686 final)
SP 1613 (EC Ref No 12758/00 COM(2000) 681 final)
SP 1454 (EC Ref No 11840/00 COM(2000) 547 final)
SP 1514 (EC Ref No 12074/00 COM(2000) 619 final)
Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
On page 2 there are no documents to be referred formally to other committees.
Page 3 lists documents on which we are still awaiting information. The suggestion is that consideration of the following documents be deferred:
SP 1586 (EC Ref No 12646/00 COM(2000) 573 final)
SP 1550 (EC Ref No 12349/00 COM(2000) 631 final)
SP 1582 (EC Ref No 12648/00 COM(2000) 574 final)
SP 1622 (EC Ref No 13075/00 COM(2000) 627 final)
Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
I am interested in document SP1550, which relates to oil. If we had had time, I would have asked Jack McConnell to keep us informed about the future development of energy policy.
We are trying to obtain more information on that. Once we have received it, we will pass it on to members.
Page 4 of the note lists documents for which no further action is recommended, other than that they be copied to the relevant committees for information. The documents are:
SP 1630 (EC Ref No SN 5096/00)
SP 1633 (EC Ref No 13046/00 SEC(2000) 1841)
SP 1634 (EC Ref No 13002/00 ADD 2 SEC(2000) 1825 Volume II)
SP 1606 (EC Ref No 1999/0154(CNS) COM(2000) yyy final)
SP 1629 (EC Ref No 13002/00 ADD 1 SEC(2000) 1825 Volume I)
SP 1632 (EC Ref No 13054/00 ECOFIN 319)
SP 1635 (EC Ref No 13003/00 SEC(2000) 1823)
SP 1639 (EC Ref No 13386/00 SEC(2000) 1942)
SP 1603 (EC Ref No 9737/5/00 REV 5)
SP 1624 (EC Ref No 9737/4/00 REV 4)
SP 1434 (EC Ref No 11305/00 DROIPEN 39)
SP 1451 (EC Ref No 11547/00 COM(2000) 592 final)
Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
For the following documents, listed on pages 5 and 6 of the scrutiny note, the recommendation is for no further action:
SP 1604 (EC Ref No COM(2000) 507 provisional)
SP 1608 (EC Ref No 2857/1/00(RECH) REV 1)
SP 1609 (EC Ref No 11622/00 COM(2000) 578 final 2000/0238 (CNS))
SP 1617 (EC Ref No 12848/00 COM(2000) 643 final)
SP 1623 (EC Ref No 13134/00)
SP 1625 (EC Ref No 13170/00 ECOFIN 328)
SP 1626 (EC Ref No 13055/00 ECOFIN 320)
SP 1628 (EC Ref No CONFER 4790/00)
SP 1638 (EC Ref No Brussels 17/05/00 PRG(2000) doc 6)
SP 1602 (EC Ref No 13041/00 SOC 413 ECOFIN 318)
SP 1607 (EC Ref No Brussels 17.07.2000 SEC(2000) 1231 final)
SP 1610 (EC Ref No 11689/00 COM(2000) 579 final COD 1999/0275)
SP 1614 (EC Ref No 12761/00 COM(2000) 688 final)
SP 1615 (EC Ref No 12762/00 COM(2000) 691 final)
SP 1616 (EC Ref No 12763/00 COM(2000) 690 final)
SP 1618 (EC Ref No 12994/00 COM(2000) 682 final)
SP 1619 (EC Ref No 13027/00 COM(2000) 657 final 1999/0180)
SP 1620 (EC Ref No 13032/00 COM(2000) 634 final COD 2000/0251)
SP 1621 (EC Ref No 13048/00 COM(2000) 685 final)
SP 1627 (EC Ref No 9651/00 COM(2000) 405 final)
SP 1631 (EC Ref No Brussels 08/11/2000 COM(2000) 692/2 final)
SP 1636 (EC Ref No 13104/00 COM(2000) 558 final)
SP 1637 (EC Ref No SEC(2000) 404 final)
SP 1605 (EC Ref No 12798/00 ENFOPOL 70)
SP 1601 (EC Ref No 2530-58r2 The Hague 30 October 2000)
Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
I invite members to note the contents of the public document headed "Correspondence Report: exchange of letters with the Scottish Executive on proposals for EC/EU legislation", which summarises our discussions with the Scottish Executive and its view on items of EC legislation.
I do not want to pre-empt the debate on committee restructuring that will take place later this week in Parliament, but it is possible that a number of members of the committee will leave it shortly. I thank those members who may be affected for the contribution that they have made to the committee.
I cannot prejudge the view of Parliament or of individual groups on who should be a member of the committee, but a number of members who may be affected by restructuring have made a good contribution to the committee's work. We will be sorry to see them go. I hope that their experience on the committee will benefit them in their work on other committees.
This is our last meeting before the festive period. I hope that all members have a good break, a happy new year and a merry Christmas—in whichever order those may come.
Meeting continued in private until 16:55.