§ Mr. ButterfillTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if British officials listed as trading standards officers and environmental health officers will be able to participate in the European Community action plan for the exchange of officials engaged in the enforcement of Community legislation required to build the single market,110W as set out in Official Journal C229 of 20 November; and what information he has on the record of the United Kingdom and other EC member states on the enforcement of European Community legislation as they relate to trading standards and environmental health matters.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe Commission's proposal for an action plan for the exchange of national officials between member state administrations engaged in the enforcement of single market legislation has only just been presented to the Council. The proposal will now be the subject of discussion in the Council and the Parliament. It is too early to say what the final shape of the proposal will be. A pilot project for the scheme earlier this year involved a British trading standards officer in an exchange visit to France. There is insufficient evidence at present to produce a meaningful comparison of the performance of member states on enforcement.