§ 15. Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress on the creation of the single European market.
§ Mr. SainsburyGood progress has been made towards the creation of the single market. Of the 282 measures set out in the 1985 Commission White Paper, "Completing the Internal Market", 197 measures have now been agreed by the Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. ViggersCan my hon. Friend confirm that the Conservative party, which originally took this country into the European Economic Community, to its great benefit, and despite the sullen and unhelpful attitude of the Labour party of the time—and some peripheral sniping—is now on target to complete requisite legislation for the single European market by December 1992?
§ Mr. SainsburyI am happy to do so. The Government have consistently been in the lead in implementing directives in domestic law. Occasionally—perhaps even at this moment—the Danes have been slightly ahead of us, but we have an excellent record and are well on target to creating the single market. which will be of great benefit to British industry.