§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the meeting of European Community steel ministers held on 14 December.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe Steel Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, discussed Commission proposals for short term action to restore price stability on the European steel market. Progress was made on a possible package of measures, including the establishment of mandatory minimum prices for certain products; the introduction of a system of deposits for producers of those products, intended to improve the enforcement of the price and quota rules; and closer monitoring of the steel market, to facilitate detection of abuses of the rules. The Council will meet again on 22 December to continue its discussion of these proposals.