§ Mr. SproatTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC for promoting deregulation both at a Community level and in member states' implementation of EC directives.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonDuring the United Kingdom presidency of the Community, the Government plan to introduce a resolution at the Industrial Affairs Council aimed at strengthening the Commission's fiche d'impact system of assessing the costs to business of Community legislation and encouraging the Commission to consult business more fully before proposing legislation. We will continue to attach importance to prompt implementation of Community directives by member states. In the United Kingdom, we will continue to press the Departments responsible to implement Community directives on time and with the minimum possible burden to business.
§ Mr. SproatTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to ensure that the work of the deregulation liaison Minister in each Department is monitored and that an overall view of the Government's achievements in the field of deregulation is brought together; and if he will publish an annual report of those achievements.
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§ Mr. Neil HamiltonProgress under the deregulation initiative in all regulatory departments is co-ordinated and monitored by the deregulation unit in the Department of Trade and Industry. As the Minister with particular responsibility for the initiative, I take an active lead in liaising with deregulation Ministers in other Departments. Reports of progress and announcements are made regularly; the most recent such announcement was on 18 February,Official Report, columns 122–25. As stated by the Prime Minister on 19 May, Official Report, column 113, there is a ministerial committee on industrial, commercial and consumer affairs whose terms of reference are
to consider industrial, commercial and consumer issues, including questions of competition and deregulation".
§ Mr. SproatTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18. April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonI and my ministerial colleagues have met our EC counterparts and European Commissioners on a number of occasions since 18 April. The importance of minimising the burdens on business of community legislation was emphasised in relevant meetings. During the United Kingdom presidency, I and my colleagues will attach great importance to making progress on minimising burdens on business.