HC Deb 21 June 1989 vol 155 cc175-6W
44. Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the help which is being given to companies to enable them to take full advantage of the establishment of the internal market in 1992.

Mr. Maude

Our 24-hour "1992 hotline"—01–200 1992—provides business with access to a wide range of information and advice on the single market, including detailed factsheets, booklets on standards, and an action checklist. Practical help and advice is available through our enterprise initiative; the consultancy initiatives and the export initiative are particularly relevant for firms seeking to take specific steps to prepare for the single market.

The CBI's "Initiative 1992" is a major private sector source of help on the single market; whilst a number of trade associations, Chambers of Commerce and professional bodies are providing their members with guidance on how the single market will affect their activities.

45. Mr. David Evans

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department is taking to ensure that British firms are made fully aware of the opportunity to become a member of an European economic interest grouping as a means of preparing for 1992.

Mr. Maude

Full details on the form of a European economic interest grouping are given in our main single market booklet "The Facts" and in an article in the current edition of "Single Market News", copies of which are available through our 24-hour "1992 hotline": 01–200 1992. The rules on registering an EEIG in Great Britain are given in the statutory instrument SI 1989/638.

56. Mr. Hague

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress with regard to arrangements made by his Department to assist British firms to take full advantage of the completion of the internal market in 1992.

Mr. Maude

Our "Europe Open for Business" information service is constantly updated and expanded to help business prepare for the single market. Recent additions include: a booklet and video on the decision-making process in Brussels ("Brussels Can You Hear Me?"); new standards booklets ("construction products", "simple pressure vessels", "directives under discussion"); a checklist on progress on single market legislation ("White Paper Checklist"). This material, together with our comprehensive single market information pack, can be obtained free of charge, through our "1992 hotline"—01–200 1992. Two new booklets—an action guide for smaller firms and a guide to public purchasing—will be available later on this summer.

57. Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent estimates his Department have made of the effects of 1992 on each of Britain's regions.

92. Mr. Clelland

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further estimates his Department has made on the effects of 1992 on each of Britain's regions,.

Mr. Maude

I refer the hon. Gentlemen to my reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 19 April at column 177.