HC Deb 13 April 1994 vol 241 cc201-2
14. Mr. Steen

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to meet his European counterparts to discuss reducing the number of general directives affecting small businesses emanating from Brussels.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

As my hon. Friend will realise, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no exact counterpart in Europe—he is unique.

We frequently have meetings with other Ministers in the Council of Ministers and high on our agenda for discussion is deregulation and the need to reduce the regulatory burdens on business which threaten to destroy so many jobs on our continent.

Mr. Steen

The problem is the over-zealous interpretation of general directives by Whitehall officials on which other countries take a relaxed view. Is my hon. Friend aware that in Spain there are 63 fisheries officials based in Madrid—1,000 miles from the coast? That is just like running the Wembley cup final with the referee in Aberdeen. In this country, there are more than 300 fisheries officials looking after fisheries business who are based in ports. In the future, we should make sure that we pursue general directives only when other countries pursue them as rigorously as we do.

Mr. Hamilton

As my hon. Friend will know, I am responsible for the single market compliance unit, so I am always interested in the sort of stories that he brings to the House. It is vital that Britain does not impose differential burdens on its employers and businesses. We must apply the lightest possible regulatory touch, learn from the experience of other member states and take a more imaginative approach to some of the European Union directives.

Mr. Hain

Is the Minister aware of the widespread concern among those offering bed-and-breakfast facilities and holiday cottages that a forthcoming European directive may prevent them from taking deposits for holidays? That would have a devastating impact on those small businesses. What are the Government doing to prevent that devastation?

Mr. Hamilton

I welcome the hon. Gentleman's interest in deregulation—he is usually on the other side of the argument. I well appreciate the problems, as reported to the hon. Gentleman, that confront bed-and-breakfast establishments and I assure him that they do not lack for an advocate in the Department of Trade and Industry.