§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government policy is towards the EU Hallmarking Directive; and if she will make a statement. [71867]
§ Mr. WilsonThe draft Directive proposing a single market in hallmarking precious metals is not the subject of current negotiations. Should they resume in future, the Government would wish to participate constructively to work for a fair outcome for business and consumers. The Department encourages key stakeholders to consider the implications of a possible Directive.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the EU Hallmarking Directive on UK assay offices; and if she will make a statement. [71868]
§ Mr. WilsonThe draft Hallmarking Directive has not progressed in Europe for a number of years due to unresolved difference and it is unclear whether or when it may do so. In the event of further discussions or new proposals coming forward, impact on a wide range of interests will need to be assessed, including business and consumers and others such as assay offices.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the EU directives and regulations that have been implemented through her Department in 2002; and what was the cost of each to public funds. [64989]
§ Ms HewittFive EU directives have been implemented by DTI so far in 2002
Directives 97/64/EC, 98/44/EC, 1999/42/EC, 1999/93/EC, and 2001/77/EC.The cost and saving information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the EU directives relating to her Department which have been(a) amended and (b) repealed in 2002. [64939]
§ Ms HewittThe following EU directives relating to DTI have been amended or repealed so far in 2002.
182WAmended: Directive 76/768/EECRepealed: Directives 90/387/EEC, 91/396/EEC, 92/44/EEC, 92/264/EEC, 95/47/EC, 97/13/EC, 98/10/EC
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on the directives on names and labelling of textile products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66440]
§ Ms HewittNo meeting of the EU Committee on Directives relating to Textile Names and Labelling is scheduled currently. When it does meet the UK is normally represented by one official from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of protective equipment and systems for use in explosive atmospheres is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66437]
§ Ms HewittIt is my understanding that the hon Member is referring to the Standing Committee set up under Article 6 of Council Directive 94/9/EC of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (the so-called ATEX Directive). The date of the next meeting of the Standing Committee is 11 December 2002.
Representation from the United Kingdom is led by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, supported by a technical expert from the Health and Safety Executive to provide technical advice. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of pressure vessels is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66427]
§ Ms HewittI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) earlier today.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of electric materials used in an explosive atmosphere is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66438]
183W
§ Ms HewittIt is my understanding that the hon. Member is referring to the committee responsible for adaptation to technical progress of the Directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres set up under Article 6 of Directive 76/117/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The committee has not met for several years and is unlikely to meet again because Directive 76/I 17/EEC is being superseded by Directive 94/9/EC (the ATEX Directive) and will be repealed on 1 July 2003 when Directive 94/9/EC comes fully into force.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of construction plant and equipment is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66428]
§ Ms HewittIt is my understanding that the hon Member is referring to the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress set up under Article 4 of Directive 79/113/EEC on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to the determination of the noise emission of construction plant and equipment. Directive 79/113/EEC has been superseded by Directive 2000/14/EC and was repealed on 3 January 2002 when Directive 2000/14/EC came fully into force. Therefore, this Committee will not meet again. However, at previous meetings the UK was normally represented by two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of lifting and mechanical handling appliances is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66439]
§ Ms HewittDirective 84/528/EEC, on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for lifting and mechanical handling appliances, was repealed on 1 July 1999 by the Lifts Directive 95/16/EC.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of cosmetics is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66425]
§ Ms HewittThe EU Technical Adaptation Committee on the safety of cosmetic products next met on 22 July. The UK is represented by two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in184W discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.