HC Deb 07 December 1988 vol 143 cc189-92W
Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the measures required to complete the internal market for 1992;

(2) if he will list those of the items identified by the European Commission as being essential to complete the internal market in Europe which have to date been incorporated in (a) European Community and (b) United Kingdom law;

(3) if he will list those items identified by the European Commission as essential to complete the internal market where agreement has not yet been reached.

Mr. Maude

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Leighton) at column 440. Since then the following measures have also been agreed by the Council of Ministers:

Control of Goods Directive amending Directive 77/93 on protective measures concerning entry into Member States or organisms harmful to plants or plant products. [adopted]

Removal of Technical Barriers Food for particular nutritional use (amendment).[common position] Food labelling (amendment). [common position) Two (concerning proprietary and immunological medicinal products) of a package of four proposals on the extension of directives to medicinal products not already included. [common position] The following measures are either currently in force in the United Kingdom or legislation has been made or administrative action taken to bring them into force by the required implementation dates.

Control of Goods Duty-free admission of fuel contained in the fuel tanks of commercial motor vehicles: lorries and coaches*. Single Administrative document (SAD) third country aspects. Simplification of Community transit procedure: amendment to Reg 222/77. Abolition of customs presentation charges. Elimination of customs formalities in the framework of the TIR Convention and the Introduction of common border posts—"banalisation". Live animals of the bovine species: amended eradication directives to provide for final eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leukosis. Eradication of classical swine fever in the Community as a whole and swine fever. Hormone growth promoters. Medical examination of Personnel. Antibiotic residues. Control of residues. Swine fever. Control of foot and mouth disease. Amendment to Directive 77/93 (plant health). Maximum levels for pesticide residues in cereals and foodstuffs of animal origin. Amendment of Directive 79/117/EEC on the prohibition of certain plant protection products (ethylene oxide). Proposal for Directive on the fixing of guidelines for the evaluation of additives used in animal foodstuffs. Modification of Directive 72/461 on health problems affecting Intra-Community trade in fresh meat and Directive 72/462 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat from 3rd countries. Acceptance for breeding purposes of purebred breeding animals of the bovine species. Amendment to Directive 80/215 on animal health problems affecting Intra-Community trade in meat products. Amendment to Directive 74/63 on undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition (maximum pesticide residues in animal feeding-stuffs). Semen of animals.

Control of Individuals Sixth Directive relative to exemptions in international travel: increase to 350 ECUs. Tax reliefs to be allowed on the importation of goods in small consignments of a non-commercial character.

The Removal of Technical Barriers Proposal for the extension of information procedures on standards and technical rules (amendment to Directive 83/189) Type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, Directive 70/156 Directive on the approximation of laws relating to weights and dimensions of certain motor vehicles Modification of tractors framework Directive 74/150 General Directive on sampling and methods of analysis Emulsifiers (modification) Coffee extracts chicory extracts (modification) Proposal for Directive concerning the placing on the market of high-technology medicinal products including those derived from biotechnology Proposal amending Directive 75/318/EEC concerning the testing of medical specialities Proposal amending Directive 81/852/EEC concerning veterinary medicinal products Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 65/65/EEC concerning medical specialities Council Directive relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) Council Directive relating to "Restrictions on the marketing and use of asbestos Non-ionic detergents (modification of existing Directive) Tyre pressure gauge Hydraulic diggers (noise) Good laboratory practices—non-clinical testing of chemicals

Free Movement for Labour and the Professions Comparability of vocational training qualifications Co-operation between higher education and industry for advanced training relating to new technologies (COMETT) Co-ordination of provisions in respect of certain activities in the field of pharmacy Mutual recognition of diplomas in pharmacy

Common Market for Services Collective investment undertakings for transferable securities UCITS Directive: special measures concerning certain investments.

Transport Fares for scheduled air services. Air transport: sharing of passenger capacity and market access Air transport: application of Articles 85 and 86 (rules of competition). Maritime transport:

  1. 1. freedom to provide services in the sea transport sector: between Member States and between Member States and third countries.
  2. 2. application of Articles 85 and 86 of Rome Treaty to maritime transport.
  3. 3. unfair pricing practices.
  4. 4. co-ordinated action to safeguard free access to cargoes in oceanic trades.
Road transport: organisation of the market (Community quota) for the carriage of goods by road between Member States: transitional and final stages [except in so far as all Community quotas and bilateral quotas between Member States will not be abolished until 1 January 1993].

Capital Movements Liberalisation of units in collective investment undertakings for transferrable securities. Liberalisation of operations such as transactions in securities not dealt in on a Stock Exchange, admission of securities of the capital market and long-term commercial credits. Liberalisation of capital movements

Other Areas Legal protection of micro circuits.

Fiscal Measures 13th VAT Directive concerning tax refunds to persons not established in the Community. 17th VAT Directive concerning the temporary importation of goods other than means of transport. In addition the following measures do not require implementation by the United Kingdom because they are recommendations, or action is for other Member States or the Commission.

Control of Goods Live animals of the porcine species: eradication of African swine fever in Portugal. Live animals of the porcine species: eradication of African swine fever in Spain.

The removal of technical barriers Proposals for a Council Recommendation concerning tests relating to the placing on the Market of medical specialties. Membership of the European Pharmacopeia Membership of the European Agreement on detergents Protection of hotels against fire

New technologies and services Recommendation on a European Code of Conduct relating to electronic payment (relations between financial institutions, traders and service establishments and consumers). Establishment at Community level of a policy and plan of priority action for the development of an information services market.

Fiscal measures Harmonisation of the structure of excise duties on alcoholic drinks (FOD Rum)

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those items in the internal market programme which he intends to oppose in the Council of Ministers.

Mr. Maude

I have been asked to reply.

The Government strongly supports the aim of completing the Single Market. We attach priority to many of the proposals made by the European Commission, but have difficulties with some others—as do other Member States. Many measures in the Single Market Programme are complex and all involve detailed negotiation. It would not therefore be possible to present the information in the form requested.

Forward to