§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he informed Parliament about the need to repeal the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 for reasons of European Economic Community law; if European Economic Community decisions on the matter required unanimity; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardI explained the background to this matter in answers to my hon. Friends the Members for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) and for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 1 December last year, at columns 434 and 426. The need to repeal the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 results from threatened action by the European Commission under article 169 of the EC treaty, based upon legal precedents established in the European Court of Justice on the interpretation of article 30 of the treaty. Decisions of the European Community, as such, are not involved.