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Pensions Review
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to consult with (a) pensioners' organisations and (b) other interested groups and charities in advance of the publication of the Government's Pensions Review. [40392]
Mr. Denham: The first stage of the Pensions Review has involved an extensive public consultation exercise with pensioners' organisations, employers, employees, consumer groups, charities, the pensions industry and others. We have met representatives of many of these organisations since the review was launched last July and we are meeting the National Pensioners' Convention on a regular basis reflecting their central and specific role to ensure that the views of today's pensioners are at the heart of the review process.
We received over 2,000 responses to the first part of the review and over 200 responses to our proposals on stakeholder pensions. As set out in the Green Paper, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare" (Cm 3805), we will publish a Green Paper on pensions later this year. There will then be a period of further consultation before final proposals are developed.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
European Union Council
Mr. Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for May and the major European Union events for the next six months. [40785]
Mr. Doug Henderson: 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.
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Christmas Island
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 8 January 1998, concerning Christmas Island, what action has been taken on the costs and technical issues involved in the clean-up of Christmas Island. [39312]
Mr. Fatchett: Since my letter of 8 January there has been a further round of correspondence between myself, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for International Development. Officials have drawn up a three stage plan to identify the cost and technical issues that would be involved in any future clean-up of Christmas Island.
General Affairs Council
Mrs. McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 27 and 28 April. [40535]
Mr. Doug Henderson: 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
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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.
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