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26 Mar 2007 : Column WS103
Written Statements
Monday 26 March 2007
Armed Forces: Depleted Uranium
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Derek Twigg) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) was established in 2001 to oversee a screening programme for veterans of the 1991 Gulf conflict and subsequent Balkans operations concerned about possible exposure to depleted uranium. Testing based on the analysis of urine samples for trace quantities of uranium isotopes was offered between 2004 and 2006. A total of 496 applicants completed the test.
The final report of the DUOB is now available and can be accessed from the website www.duob.org.uk. The board was unable to achieve complete consensus on the interpretation and significance of the test results; however, no evidence of the excretion of depleted uranium was found in the urine of any of the test participants. According to mainstream scientific and medical opinion, this means that none had suffered an exposure to DU of sufficient magnitude likely to cause a risk to their health.
I welcome these findings and believe they will have provided valuable reassurance and peace of mind to the veterans concerned.
EU: Development Ministers' Meeting
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made the following Statement.
I represented the UK at the EU Development Ministers' informal meeting in Bonn on 12 to 13 March 2007.
The main discussion was on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) among key stakeholders, involving EU Development Ministers and 30 ministerial representatives from African, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) states. Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, and Development Commissioner, Louis Michel, represented the European Commission and explained where the negotiations had got to and what the Commission could offer, while emphasising the developmental importance of EPAs and the need for faster progress to meet the end-of-2007 deadline for agreement. Each ACP regional grouping reported on the state of play of the negotiations.
Supported by many others, the UK pressed for duty-free, quota-free market access for ACP products, more liberal rules of origin and lengthy transition periods for ACP partners. The ACP side expressed its strong commitment to the EPA negotiations and to the deadline but highlighted issues that needed to be resolved, including more aid for trade.
EU Development Ministers also discussed two issues being taken forward under the German EU presidency: energy and development, and division of labour. Ministers expressed broad support for a proposed EU-Africa partnership on energy, stressing the vital role of energy for Africa's economic and social development. The UK noted the challenge that access, energy security and climate change represent to the developing world and the importance of Europe taking a global leadership in addressing this. The May Development Council will agree steps to improve the effectiveness of aid by promoting a more sensible division of labour between donors.
In the margins of the informal, World Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz, and Dr Michael Otto spoke on investing in Africa. Discussion revolved around the need to enable Africa to show itself in a positive light and for donors, the private sector and the poor themselves to be further involved in stimulating the continent's growth.
Oliver Kamitatu, Minister of Planning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Roeland van der Geer, the EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes, spoke on the political, economic and social challenges presented by reconstruction in that region. UN Deputy Secretary-General, Asha-Rose Migiro, also spoke on the need for UN reform.
EU: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Lord Davies of Oldham: My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Gordon Brown) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council was held on 27 February in Brussels. The UK was represented by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Ed Balls. The items on the agenda were as follows:
Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact
Stability and Convergence Programmes: ECOFIN adopted Council opinions on the stability programmes of Slovenia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Ireland, France and Germany, and on the convergence programmes of Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Sweden, Poland, Malta, Lithuania, Hungary, Greece, Finland, Estonia and Denmark.
Ministers held an exchange of views on the issues raised by the assessments. The president of the Council concluded that member states should continue to implement reforms to reduce structural deficits, avoid pro-cyclical expenditure and ensure the sustainability of public finances and the quality of expenditure.
Excessive Deficit Procedure: Ministers adopted a Council recommendation with a view to bringing to an end the excessive deficit in Poland. It recommended that the Polish authorities put an end to the present excessive deficit situation by 2007, reducing the general government deficit in a credible and sustainable manner.
The UK supports a prudent interpretation of the stability and growth pact (SGP), which takes into account the level of debt, the influence of the cycle and the level of public investment, and ensures that any recommendations reflect each member state's economic position.
Preparation of the European Council (8 to 9 March 2007)
ECOFIN discussed three issues in preparation for the spring European Council. These were:
Key Issues Paper: This discussion followed the orientation debate on the key issues paper at the last ECOFIN meeting. The key issues paper informs the spring European Council of ECOFIN Ministers’ priorities. The UK stressed the need for an energy policy for Europe based on careful assessment of the impact on cost-effectiveness, security and diversification of supply and subsidiarity, creating a positive framework for investment in the energy sector; the need to complete the single market and to further integrate European financial markets to enhance their efficiency and global competitiveness; the importance of long-term fiscal sustainability and supported ongoing work to combat fiscal fraud and harmful tax practices.
Updating the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines 2005-08: Ministers agreed the broad economic policy guidelines for the spring Council.
Reducing administrative burdens: ECOFIN agreed Council conclusions on reducing administrative burdens. The UK supports the conclusions, which include a 25 per cent target for the reduction of administrative burdens arising from EU legislation. The UK already has a domestic target to reduce administrative burdens by the same amount and will continue to press for a risk-based approach to European regulation.
General budget of the European Union
Discharge procedure in respect of the implementation of the budget for 2005: Council adopted conclusions recommending that the European Parliament grant discharge to the Commission on the EC's 2005 budget. The UK stressed the need to address the persistent inability of the Court of Auditors to give a positive statement of assurance on the budget and said that the Commission, member states and the court itself all had a role to play in this respect. The UK urged other member states to look at ways, compatible with their own institutional arrangements, to improve their management of EU funds at a national level, along the lines of the UK's initiative announced in November 2006.
Clearing and Settlement: Ministers agreed conclusions on target 2 securities, which establish issues of principle relevant to future decisions on target 2 securities, and received an update from the Commission on the implementation of the code of conduct. The UK stressed the importance of an open, transparent and market-led approach to clearing and settlement initiatives.
Lord Davies of Oldham: My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Gordon Brown) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will be held on 27 March in Brussels. The items on the agenda are as follows:
Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact
Stability and Convergence Programmes: Ministers will be invited to adopt Council opinions on the stability programmes of Belgium and Spain and on the convergence programmes of Latvia, Bulgaria and Romania. The UK supports a prudent interpretation of the SGP that takes account of country-specific factors, including debt sustainability, the economic cycle and public investment.
General Budget of the European Union
Council Priorities for the 2008 Budget: Ministers will be invited to adopt conclusions agreeing the Council's budget guidelines for the 2008 EC Budget. These guidelines are a set of broad principles designed to inform the subsequent and more detailed discussions on the level of appropriations required for the different areas of the budget. These guidelines reflect the UK's desire to see a greater emphasis on the principles of budgetary discipline and sound financial management in the establishment of the 2008 EC Budget. Through these principles, the Council has underlined the importance it attaches to compliance with the financial framework and the strict respect of the annual limits therein.
Progress Report on the Commission Action Plan towards an Integrated Internal Control Framework: Ministers will hear a presentation from Commissioner Almunia updating them on the European Commission's progress in implementing its action plan towards an integrated internal control framework. The UK Government support the Commission's efforts to improve financial management of the EU Budget and announced to Parliament on 20 November 2006 that the UK would take a lead in showing how member states could improve their own management of EU funds.
Directive on Prudential Assessment of Acquisitions in the Financial Sector: Ministers will be asked to approve text amending the supervisory review process for cross-border mergers and acquisitions in the financial services sector, as adopted by the European Parliament on 13 March, and thus to confirm political agreement on the directive. The UK welcomes moves to bring greater transparency to the supervisory approvals process.
Directive on Payment Services in the Internal Market: Ministers will be asked to discuss the presidency's proposal for harmonising the legal and technical provision of payment services across the EU, ahead of a vote in the European Parliament in April. The UK Government support a directive that encourages competition and innovation in a single market for payment services.
Food Safety Promotion Board: Northern Ireland
Lord Rooker: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Goggins) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
Copies of the Food Safety Promotion Board Annual Report 2005 incorporating financial statements for 2005 have been placed in the Libraries.
This document provides details of the Food Safety Promotion Board's activities, performance and expenditure to the end of 2005.
Liability in Damages: Davies Review
Lord Davies of Oldham: My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ed Balls) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
My Written Statement of 26 January 2007 announced the terms of reference for the independent review of issuer liability that I invited Professor Paul Davies QC, Cassel Professor of Commercial Law at the London School of Economics, to carry out.
His discussion paper Liability for Misstatements to the Market is published today. It sets out his analysis of the problem and invites comments on the issues arising. Copies of the paper are available in the Library and can be downloaded from the HM Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/davies.
North/South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited
Lord Rooker: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Peter Hain) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
I have today placed in the Libraries papers relating to decisions that have been taken during the period 28 October 2006 to 1 March 2007 that relate to the North/South implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland Ltd under the terms of the exchange of notes of 19 November 2002 (Cmnd 5708).
Decisions taken from 28 October 2006 to 1 March 2007 that relate to the North/South implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland under the terms of the exchange of notes of 19 November 2002 (Cmnd 5708).
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