§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many directives from the European Economic Community have affected the practices of industry in Scotland; and what advice he has issued on these directives since 1st January.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAdvice to industry on EEC matters is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whose Department has made available, both since 1st January 1973 and for a long period prior to our entry to the EEC, a great deal of information about the broad effect of EEC legislation. The Department of Trade and Industry also provides advice to individual companies and interested bodies in Scotland through the Scottish Industrial Development Office. Additionally I draw the attention of the nationalised industries within my field of responsibility to relevant EEC legislation or proposed legislation.
It is not feasible to say how many directives have affected the practices of industry in Scotland. Copies of EEC legislation are available to the public so that individual bodies, which alone have the necessary exact knowledge of their own activities, may determine precisely how they are affected. All directives have been or are being published in the special and current English editions of the Communities' Official Journal.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many directives from the European Economic Community have affected the practices of Scottish local government bodies; and what advice he has issued on these directives since 1st January.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI issued a circular on 5th January drawing the attention of local authorities to two directives which forbid discrimination against contractors from other member States in the award of public works and supply contracts.