§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral answer of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 26 February,Official Report, column 576, if he will list those statutory instruments and Acts of Parliament which have been gold plated in the past five years; and what steps he is taking to amend or repeal each piece of gold plating on existing legislation. [23628]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 1 April 1996]: The Government's policy is not to add unnecessary burdens when implementing European Community directives. Departments take every opportunity to review existing legislation in the light of this. Officials are currently working on revised guidance to enable Ministers to see where implementing legislation goes beyond the underlying European Community directive.