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SNP President
Ian Hudghton MEP has published figures which show that Scottish Executive
ministers have failed during the year 2006 to represent Scotland at key EU
Council meetings. Official EU reports of Council meetings show that,
during the course of the year, Scottish ministers have been recorded as
being part of the official UK delegation on only six out of a possible 75
occasions.
The figures
also show that on none of the six occasions was the Scottish minister
permitted to lead the UK delegation to the Council. Scottish ministers
have been allowed to lead UK delegations on only three occasions since the
establishment of the Scottish Parliament - but never since Jack McConnell
became First Minister.
Commenting on
the report, Mr Hudghton said:
"Our
neighbours in small successful countries such as Ireland and Denmark
attend every EU Council meeting as of right and, ideally, Scotland should
too. However the figures show that, even within the current system,
Scottish ministers are totally failing to stand up for Scotland.
"Scottish
ministers can be permitted to attend Council meetings as official UK
delegates if they ask to do so. The fact is that this year they have only
chosen to do so on a half-dozen occasions.
"In a number
of key devolved areas, such as health, transport and social policy
Executive ministers have completely failed to show up. These are all
areas which fall within the powers of the Scottish Parliament. They are
all areas which have to be administered by the Scottish Executive. Yet
Jack McConnell seems content to let London call the shots.
Commenting on
the failure of Scottish ministers to lead the UK delegation at any of the
Council meetings they did attend, Mr Hudghton added:
"Jack
McConnell also seems content for London ministers to lead the UK
delegation at all times. Under both Donald Dewar and Henry McLeish,
Scottish ministers were occasionally given a voice. However, since Mr
McConnell took office the Scottish role has been strictly backseat.
"The EU takes
key decisions which impact on the lives of everyone in Scotland. It's
simply not good enough for us to have the occasional ministerial trip to
Brussels for Scottish ministers to sip coffee in the Executive's offices
or carry bags for their London bosses. Scotland needs a seat at the top
table every time. Only with Independence can a top table seat be
guaranteed"
Notes
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All figures
are compiled from the EU's official lists of participants at Council
meetings available at
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=348&lang=EN&mode=g
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Council
meetings are held under nine broad subject areas (General Affairs and
External Relations; Economic and Financial Affairs; Employment, Health,
Social Policy and Consumer Affairs; Justice and Home Affairs;
Competitiveness; Transport, Telecommunications and Energy; Agriculture
and Fisheries; Environment; and Education, Youth and Culture).
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Out of a total of 75 Council meetings during 2006,
Scottish ministers are recorded as having attended the following Council
meetings: Justice and Home Affairs (one out of six meetings),
Agriculture and Fisheries (two out of eleven), Environment (two out of
four) and Education, Youth and Culture (one out of three)
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Accordingly, Scottish ministers have failed to be
official participants at any of the Council meetings dealing with the
other subject areas. These areas cover key responsibilities of the
Scottish Parliament including health, social policy, transport and
public services.
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Scottish Executive ministers were allowed to lead the UK
delegations to Council once in 2000 and twice in 2001. This practice
has not continued since Jack McConnell took office in November 2001.
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Full details are available from Mr Hudghton.
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