HC Deb 09 March 1988 vol 129 c262W
24. Mr. Fallon

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in removing barriers to free trade in the European Community; and what further action is being taken to ensure that by 1992 there is a genuine single market in Europe.

Mr. Alan Clark

The Community is making encouraging progress towards the completion of the single European market by the target date of 31 December 1992. More than 100 individual measures aimed at removing barriers have been agreed in the last 18 months, 48 of them during the United Kingdom presidency in the second half of 1986. Following implementation of the Single European Act, the increased use of majority voting is already speeding up the process of decision taking. Priorities for decisions this year include standards, opening up public purchasing, liberalising capital movements, and freedom of establishment for the professions.

37. Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the Government's plans to prepare British companies for the completion of the single market in 1992.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Since we announced our campaign the DTI has received an encouragingly large number of representations from all sectors of British business. All have warmly welcomed the priority which the Government are giving to completing the single market and the steps we are taking to make British business aware of the challenge.