§ Lord Irvingof Dartford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made with the EEC draft directives on seamless gas cylinders first published in 1972 and 1974; and what view they take of the need for such directives.
The Minister of State, Privy Council Office and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie): Discussion of both draft directives in Council working groups was completed in 1981 and the drafts were passed to the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels. Adoption of both is being held up by the general problem of imports from third countries and, in addition, there are two technical reservations from other member states on the aluminium cylinder directive still awaiting resolution.
The adoption of both directives is thought likely to benefit United Kingdom manufacturers provided the remaining problems can be satisfactorily resolved.