§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many EEC regulations now affect the United Kingdom. other than those which are the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
§ Mr. HattersleyBy virtue of Article 189 of the Treaty of Rome and Section 2(1) of the European Communities Act 1972 all EEC regulations apply to the United Kingdom. There is no convenient way of separating out those relating to agriculture from the remainder. The overwhelming majority of Commission58W regulations are of short duration and are continuously superseded. Council regulations are generally more permanent in nature but can be annulled or amended by later instruments. It would be necessary to examine all those issued since the foundation of the Community to establish the number in force at any given time. This could only be done at unjustifiable cost to public funds.