§ LORD HALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that the promised reciprocal entry of goods within the Common Market is being frustrated by the insistence that British exports should conform to standards which have not been prescribed; and whether they will publish a list of goods, such as capacitors which can travel one way only and indicate what steps are being taken to remedy this abuse.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNGoods imported into one Common Market country from another are subject to national laws and regulations covering such matters as safety, health or consumer protection. In addition, there are some standards and certification requirements which are not legally compulsory but with which it is, in practice, necessary to comply. Her Majesty's Government attaches great importance to removing the barriers to trade to which this situation gives rise. The determination of the enlarged Community to tackle this problem energetically and systematically was confirmed in the Communiqué issued after the recent Summit Conference. It would not be feasible to publish a complete list of the goods which are subject to restrictions in one country or another. However, I shall be sending the noble Lord the list of products on which the Community is already working. The particular case of capacitors is being investigated, and I will advise the noble Lord of the outcome as soon as possible.
House adjourned at eighteen minutes before nine o'clock.