§ VISCOUNT WATKINSONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement about how the powers proposed in Clause 12 of the European Communities Bill are likely to be used and what safeguards would exist for the confidentiality of information so provided relating to individual undertakings.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY or STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (THE EARL OF LIMERICK)The powers in Clause 12 would be used with the same regard for the protection of the interests of individual undertakings as are the comparable powers in Section 9 of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 and Section 80 of the Agriculture Act 1947. However, we recognise that some firms may still feel genuine concern about the protection of information given to the Government which they regard as confidential. To meet this concern the Government under-take that if any case should arise in which there would appear to the Government to be a risk that action under Clause 12 might prejudice the interests of an individual undertaking which has supplied information under the Statistics of Trade 1431WA Act 1947, the Department concerned will discuss with the Confederation of British Industry whether the Community obligation is of a kind which would more appropriately be met otherwise than by way of a Ministerial direction under the powers in Clause 12. If the need should arise, the Agricultural Departments will hold similar discussions with the Farmers' Unions in respect of information obtained under the Agriculture Act 1947.
The Government furthermore propose to arrange for notification in Trade and Industry each time a Ministerial direction under the powers in Clause 12 is made in respect of the provisions of information obtained under the Statistics of Trade Act and to notify the individual firm or firms concerned.
1432WAThe Statistical Office of the European Communities (to which we would expect to furnish most, if not all, the information provided under the powers in Clause 12) operates under rules very similar to those which protect statistical information collected by the Government in this country. There are, moreover, the specific provisions in Article 214 of the E.E.C. Treaty concerning the non-disclosure of information about undertakings by members and officials of the Community's institutions. And it will certainly be our intention, as a member of the Communities, to sec that satisfactory standards are maintained.
House adjourned at twenty-one minutes before eleven o'clock.