§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in securing modifications to the European Union's electro-magnetic compatibility directive to minimise the cost of compliance for British small businesses. [6510]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorMy Department continues to seek support from other member states for modifications to the directive, and we have requested the European Commission to review the directive in 1997 as part of the simpler legislation for the internal market—SLIM. The Government have also commissioned a consultant to study compliance problems concentrating on the problems faced by small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, the Department supplies guidance to business on how to minimise compliance costs.