§ Lord Irving of Dartfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent non-tariff barriers impede free trade within the European Economic Community and what steps they and the Community are taking to eliminate them.
§ Lord BelsteadThe Government believe that the great majority of intra-Community trade proceeds normally, without unreasonable non-tariff hindrances. But we recognise that much still needs to be done before the Community internal market for both goods and services is fully completed.
We have played a full and constructive part at the council meetings specifically devoted to internal market issues which have been held this year. We will continue to press for the adoption of measures which will strengthen free intra-Community trade to the benefit both of the economy of the United Kingdom and of the Community as a whole.