WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3438/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Health conditions in prisons
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/165 (98/C 134/224) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3438/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (31 October 1997) Subject: Health conditions in prisons Having regard to other questions on the above subject tabled in the life of this and the previous Parliament, in the light of the deplorable leptospirosis deaths at San Vittore Prison in Milan in August 1997, and given the unspeakable health conditions in many prisons in Italy and the other Member States, will the Commission set up a committee of inquiry to investigate prison living and health conditions? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1997) The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national authorities concerned. (98/C 134/225) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3439/97 by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission (31 October 1997) Subject: Parental leave for officials of the institutions On 3 June 1996 the Council adopted Directive 96/34/EC (1) on parental leave. Member States must comply with this directive within two years. It is obvious that the institutions will adhere to the legislation which they themselves have drawn up. The time is approaching when a proposal for amendment of the Staff Regulations applicable to officials of the institutions of the European Union must be submitted. When can Parliament expect such a proposal? (1) OJ L 145, 19. 6. 1996, p. 4. Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1997) The Staff Regulations of officials already contain provisions on leave for family reasons. Under Article 40 of the Staff Regulations, officials may, in exceptional circumstances and at their own request, be granted unpaid leave on personal grounds for a period of one year, which may be extended twice. If this leave is granted in order to bring up small children, it may be extended four times. Commission officials do take advantage of this possibility. Currently, out of 335 cases of leave on personal grounds, 89 have been granted to allow a parent to bring up one or more small children. How the right to parental leave could be included in the Staff Regulations is currently being looked at, and the Commission may make a proposal on it within the more general framework of proposed improvements to the Staff Regulations which the Commission intends to submit before the end of its term of office