Written question asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UK Independence Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 May 2007.

EU: Article 308

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 16 April (WA 14-15), what were the amendments secured by the United Kingdom to ensure that the European Union's programme for prevention, preparedness and consequence-management of terrorism, and other security-related risks was linked to Community competence in that area.

Answer: The Government negotiated hard to ensure that the final text of the programme for prevention, preparedness and consequence-management of terrorism and other security-related risks reflects member states' responsibilities for protecting critical infrastructure. The adopted Council decision reflects our efforts: recitals seven and 10 refer to the Community acting within the scope of its competence (recital 7) and to the primary responsibility for protecting critical infrastructure falling on member states, owners, operators and users (recital 10). Following UK proposals, Articles 1 and 3(1) also refer to the. programme ““support[ing] member states’ efforts to prevent, prepare for and to protect people and critical infrastructure””. The Government secured deletion of the reference in Article 4(2)(a) to threat assessments on critical infrastructure. At Article 4(2)(c), the reference to ““common operational measures”” was amended to ““shared operational measures”” and at Article 4(2)(d) ““common security standards”” was amended to ““security standards””.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3365; 691 c196-7WA
Session: 2006-07
Related items: EU: Article 308
Monday, 16 April 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: EU law European Union Legislative competence Terrorism
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk