BUDGET REVIEW
Letter from the Chairman to Kitty Ussher
MP, Economic Secretary, HM Treasury
Thank you for your Explanatory Memorandum SEC(2007)
1188 which was considered by Sub-Committee A at its meeting
on 4 December. The Sub-Committee decided to hold the document
under scrutiny, as they consider the Budget Review to be an extremely
significant process. They have asked me to write to you to ask
that you give oral evidence to the Sub-Committee once you have
finalised the Government's approach to the Budget Review in general,
and to this consultation process in particular.
6 December 2007
Letter from Kitty Ussher MP to the Chairman
Thank you for your letter of 6 December
inviting me to give oral evidence to Sub-Committee A on the Government's
approach to the budget review, and on the Commission's process
in particular.
I am of course happy to accept this invitation.
There is a question of timing: no decision has yet been taken
on how the Government intends to approach the budget review or
the Commission's process. On a more practical note, you may be
aware that I will be on maternity leave from Christmas until the
end of April.
Given that we still are at the very beginning
of a budget review process that could last well into 2009, my
suggestion is that the oral evidence session be arranged for a
date after the end of April and, if you require information or
evidence before that time, that my officials provide you with
written answers to questions. I hope this is satisfactory to you.
We will of course keep Sub-Committee A informed of how the Government
intends to approach the budget review and the Commission's process.
18 December 2007
Letter from the Chairman to Kitty Ussher
MP
Thank you for your letter dated 18 December
which was considered by the Sub-Committee at their meeting on
21 January.
The Sub-Committee have asked me to emphasise
the importance that they attach to the EU Budget Review process.
As you will be aware, the Sub-Committee prepared a report on Own
Resources in 2007, and is currently inquiring into the Structural
Funds. Taken with Sub-Committee D's recent work on the Common
Agricultural Policy, it should be clear that detailed examination
of the EU Budget is a core part of the European Union Committee's
work. You will also be aware that the Committee aims to make its
input as far "upstream" in the legislative process as
is possible, and we extend this principle to our scrutiny of the
budget. As a consequence, the Sub-Committee believes that the
Government's response to the Commission's consultation document
merits their close attention.
Bearing these factors in mind, the Sub-Committee
have asked me to thank you for your offer to meet the Committee
later in the year, but to repeat their initial request for a meeting
with a Treasury Minister either before, or in tandem with, the
submission of the Government's response to the consultation document.
If the Government has decided not to submit a response to the
consultation then we will of course be happy to wait until after
the end of April as you suggest.
23 January 2008
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