HC Deb 01 December 1982 vol 33 c206W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to the reply by the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Finsberg) on 1 December 1980, Official Report, c. 86, he will outline the latest position regarding the proposed European Community Council of Ministers draft directive (78)449 on construction products.

Mr. Stanley

Since 1 December 1980 discussions have continued on the text of the proposed directive to remove barriers to trade both in the Council working group on economic questions and, more recently, in the Committee of Permanent Representatives. In consultation with representatives of the construction industry we have sought and agreed a number of amendments to the original text, whilst maintaining our formal reserve on the proposal that implementing directives should be adopted by a procedure involving qualified majority voting. There has been no discussion of the draft directive during the course of the Danish Presidency.