§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the discussion on state aids which took place at the last European Community Industry Council on 15 October and the position put forward by the United Kingdom Government.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Council discussed a proposal from the presidency that the Commission should be requested to bring forward to the Council a proposal for a regulation under article 94 of the EC treaty determining the rules for the application of state aid policy by the Commission. A majority of member states including the United Kingdom and the Commission itself took the view that such a regulation would unduly fetter the discretion of the Commission in this important area. The Commission committed itself instead to a number of measures designed to involve member states more closely in state aids policy and to introduce greater transparency and legal certainty.
§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the discussion on the steel industry which took place at the last European Community Industry Council on 15 October and the position put forward by the United Kingdom Government.
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Industry Council discussed briefly a United States proposal for a multilateral agreement to strengthen disciplines over steel trade and steel subsidies. Informal contacts with the United States on this issue are continuing. An important point to consider is the need to avoid cutting across the current Uruguay round discussions which will include disciplines on all sectors of industry.