§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the current EU Presidency working party discussions on the draft directive on articles of precious metal, she will propose that a high level of consumer protection secured by reliable third party verification should be a requisite in harmonised trade in such articles; and if she will make a statement on the stance adopted by other member states in the discussions. [136386]
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§ Mr. SutcliffeThe Government believe that a system of independent third party checks provides a high level of consumer protection and are opposed to any measures that would reduce such protection in the UK.
Some member states have indicated support for the approach in the draft directive, while others have expressed reservations.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she is making to her counterparts in other EU member states to encourage them to support the view that harmonised trade in articles of precious metal should have a high level of consumer protection secured by reliable third party verification. [136387]
§ Mr. SutcliffeMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has written to potentially sympathetic member states urging them not to support the draft directive.