§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the Common Market Regulation No. 70/222, regarding rear number plates on vehicles; to what extent this will become legally enforceable in Great Britain if this country enters the European Economic Community; and whether this regulation will be amendable and open to rejection by Parliament; and whether he will make a statement giving details of its meaning in non-technical and non-legal terms.
§ Mr. PeytonThere is no official English translation of this Directive, but its 51W effect is to require Member States not to refuse approval to a vehicle for any reason connected with the positioning and fixing of rear number plates if the vehicle conforms with stated criteria concerning the size and positioning of the place provided on vehicles for the plates. As to the effect of this Directive and the powers of this House after British entry into the Community, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 20th July this year.