HL Deb 20 March 1990 vol 517 cc196-8

3 p.m.

Baroness Elles asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress is being made in the legislative process needed to establish the single European market.

The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, excellent progress is being made in the legislative process needed to establish the single European market. The Council of Ministers has now adopted, reached a common position on, or secured agreement in principle to, 166 of the 279 measures in the Commission's White Paper. This means that about 60 per cent. of the programme has been completed.

Baroness Elles

My Lords, I welcome the reply of my noble friend with regard to the legislative process. However, can he give any further information as to the United Kingdom's position with regard to joining the exchange rate mechanism?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, back in 1979 when I first spoke from the Dispatch Box in an even more junior position than today, I said that we would join the exchange rate mechanism when the time was right. I am happy to say that that remains the position.

Lord Rippon of Hexham

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the United Kingdom has just about the best record in implementing the directives agreed under the Single European Act and, above all, the best record in keeping the law once we have agreed to it?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for saying that because it is indeed the case. I believe that only about six of the directives and other documents emerging from Brussels in that context have yet to be implemented by the United Kingdom. We accept the purport of all of them and will adhere to them as soon as possible.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, what were the guidelines and what has yet to be achieved for the Government to be able to say that the time is now right? What must happen?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, a great range of factors must be taken into account, all of which receive constant attention.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that joining the exchange rate mechanism will not be a panacea for all our economic ills? They will be cured only by taking the proper and appropriate measures on a national basis. Will he accept that and will he spell it out loudly and clearly?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the most important thing that we must do before the time will be right is to ensure that inflation is under control. That was why my noble friend just gave the answers that he did.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, we welcome the progress made towards a single market. However, is the noble Lord aware that, as we drive around the country, we see posters which carry such strange inscriptions as: The single market est arrivé"? Is the noble Lord aware that there is such a poster outside the railway station at Llandrindod Wells which reads: El mercado unico 1st gekommen"? Those posters appear to emanate from what used to be known as the department for enterprise, but has now, I believe, reverted to the name of the Department of Trade and Industry. Is the purpose of the posters to teach the citizens of Llandrindod Wells a new form of Esperanto and, if so, are they succeeding in their purpose?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am happy to say that I was born in Llandrindod Wells. I have derived great benefit for the advertisements to which the noble Lord referred, which, as it happens, I was intimately involved in preparing.