The first item on our agenda is scrutiny of European Union legislation. There are two issues before the committee. The Sub-Committee on EU Scrutiny has recommended that a number of EU documents merit further scrutiny by the joint committee. The first is COM (2005) 116, proposal for a decision establishing, for the period 2007 to 2013, the programme entitled Citizens for Europe to promote active EU citizenship. The lead Department in this matter is the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. However, a portion of the document relates to town twinning, which falls within the remit of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am not sure we need to scrutinise that any further, unless members want to pursue the issue of town twinning at this committee. Is it agreed that we recommend no further scrutiny? Agreed.
The next item is COM (2005) 119, proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities 2007 to 2013 — Building the Europe of Knowledge. The lead Department in this matter is the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. There are two proposals on this matter, one which has been referred to the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business and one to this committee. The part of the proposal that relates to this committee is concerned with research programmes of five years or less under the EURATOM treaty. The reason for the recommendation by the sub-committee is that this committee may wish to scrutinise the way the proposed measure would meet the goals set down by the Department, that is, that its main task is that EU activities should maximise the expenditure in the area of safety and controls. Does the committee want to pursue that matter further? We could endeavour to do so if we can fit it in with our programme. We will keep the matter under consideration with a view to trying to fit it in with our programme.