§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is currently taking to bring about a reduction in the paper work involved in goods crossing national frontiers within the European Economic Community.
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§ Mr. FletcherThe Government have taken a leading role in discussions of the Council of Ministers over the past 18 months about reducing paper work at intra-Community frontiers and simplifying the different administrative procedures which give rise to much of the paper work. In particular, agreement has been reached on the frontier facilitation directive which contains a number of practical measures to speed the clearance at frontiers of goods traffic; and the temporary use regulation which simplifies the paper work for temporarily imported goods including commercial samples. This work is a continuing priority. The Government are seeking early agreement on the proposed single administrative document for customs clearance of freight which could replace up to 70 different national forms.
The Government also sponsor organisations such as SITPRO (Simplification of International Trade Procedures) whose function, together with its couterparts in other member states, is to produce practical solutions to the everyday problems of trade facilitation.