§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made cf the effect on UK
480Wdiscrimination,(d) disability discrimination and (e)unfair dismissal; how many cost awards were made against(i)respondents and (ii) applicants; and how much has been spent(A)settling and (B)contesting claims. [181468]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested is as follows:
Cases to ET Numer of cases Cost awards Cost awards made against made against respondents (£000) Cost awards made against applicants (£000) Equal Pay 1 — Racial Discrimination 4 5,000 – Sex Discrimination 2 500 – Disability Discrimination 5 – – Unfair Dismissal 11 — 14,000 Total 23 5,500 14,000 consumers of (a) competition and the (b) free flow of trade as a result of membership of the European single market; and if he will make a statement. [184522]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have been asked to reply.
The European Commission estimates that in the 10 years after 1992 the internal market created 2.5 million jobs in the EU and increased its GDP by ¬877 billion. This amounts to an average ¬5,700 of extra income per household (source: European Commission (2002) "The Internal Market—10 Years without Frontiers"). In addition to increased jobs and prosperity, the Commission report points to benefits to consumers from the increased choice, price competition, and product quality and innovation in the world's largest single market. For example, according to a Commission survey, 80 per cent. of EU citizens believed that the internal market has led to wider choice and 67 per cent. that it had led to improved quality.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on the compliance and development costs to(a) British exporters and (b) British consumers of EU single market rules which allow products approved in one EU country to be sold across the EU. [184523]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have been asked to reply.
British exporters have benefited from reduced compliance and development costs, resulting from the removal of frontier controls and from rules that allow goods to be traded across the EU rather than complying with 25 different sets of national laws. The 1988 Cocchini Report ("The Cost Of non-Europe") estimated the cost saving to EU business of removal of internal
481Wfrontier controls alone in a Union then consisting of 12 members states at €8 billion. In its report, "The Internal Market£10 Years without Frontiers" (European Commission (2002)), the European Commission notes that before the frontiers came down, the tax system alone required 60 million customs clearance documents annually: these are no longer needed. The Commission's report notes how a strong, competitive internal market has helped firms become more productive and efficient and so enhanced their ability to compete in global markets. It sets out benefits to consumers from the greater prosperity, choice, price competition and product innovation that the world's largest internal market brings.