Written question asked by Mike Weir (Scottish National Party) on Wednesday, 5 June 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 June 2002. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Thursday, 13 June 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times a United Kingdom delegation has been led by Ministers from devolved administrations in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002; who attended in each case; who led in each case; and in what percentage of overall council meetings the United Kingdom delegation has been led by a devolved administration.

Answer: Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times a United Kingdom delegation has been led by Ministers from devolved administrations (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002; who attended in each case; who led in each case; and in what percentage of overall council meetings the United Kingdom delegation has been led by a devolved administration. [60787] Peter Hain: Decisions on Ministerial attendance at Council meetings are taken on a case-by-case basis by the lead UK Minister. The table below shows where Ministers from devolved administrations have led a UK delegation. Our calculations estimate this at approximately 3 per cent. of Council meetings. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year 1999 Nil -- -- 2000 Jane Davidson Education and Youth Council, 9 Welsh Assembly Government November Nicol Stephen Education Council, 8 June Scottish Executive 2001 Nicol Stephen Education and Youth Council, 12 Scottish Executive February Susan Deacon Health Council, 4 June Scottish Executive 2002 Jane Davidson Youth Council, 30 May Welsh Assembly Government _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information