§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10068]
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§ Mr. Roger EvansThis Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed by all Departments.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in(a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10052]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe largest block of EC legislation on social security is in the form of Council regulations, which are directly effective. There is relatively little other EC legislation on social security. This has been implemented on a case-by-case basis in line with overall policy of not gold plating directives, the guidance on which is currently under review. In addition, the Department has its own action plan on deregulation and EC law which is designed to ensure that there is no over-implementation of EC directives.