§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many European Community Commission 83/189 cases have been notified since 30 December 1988.
§ Mr. RedwoodA total of 257 notifications have been received between 1 January and 26 October 1989.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how long it takes Her Majesty's Government to respond to European Community Commission 83/189 cases on average; and what has been:(a) the shortest and (b) the longest time;
(2) how many European Community Commission 83/189 notification cases have been received in English; and how long it takes Her Majesty's Government to have those that were not, translated;
(3) how many times Her Majesty's Government have objected to European Community Commission 83/189 cases; from which countries, on which subjects and on which grounds;
(4) how many times Her Majesty's Government have used the Committee procedure provided for in the regulation to raise objections to European Community Commission 83/189 cases; and what was the reason.
§ Mr. RedwoodNotifications are received in the language of the notifying member state. The European Commission provides the translation. The other information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the mechanism for inter-departmental co-ordination in relation to European Community Commission 83/189 cases involving more than one Government Department.
18W
Standard Industrial Classification Activity Heading Product included in activity heading Year to 1978 19882 1989Q12 3166 Metal furniture and safes Furniture 15 27 27 3254 Construction and earth moving equipment Excavators 63 66 65 3286 Other industrial and Commercial machinery Sewing machines 41 64 63 Lawn mowers Vending machines 3301 Office machinery Calculators 1120 1124 1122
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Department with the primary interest in any particular notification is responsible for any necessary consultation and co-ordination with other Departments, using the usual formal and informal mechanisms.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is responsible for receiving, processing and formally replying to notification by the Commission of 83/189 cases.
§ Mr. RedwoodMy Department.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedure there is, in relation to European Community Commission 83/189 cases, for notifying and consulting the industries affected by these notifications; how it works; and how long it is reported to take a Department to notify the affected industry.
§ Mr. RedwoodMy Department, as well as making summaries of notifications available through the Spearhead database, consults the interests falling within its sphere of responsibility that seem likely to be affected and circulates details to other Departments to enable them to do likewise. Information is not held centrally on the time taken to dissemminate that information, and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
The Association of British Chambers of Commerce now prints summaries of notifications in its weekly publication "Business Briefing", as does the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities.