§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his proposals to replace the trade statistics source provided by the single administrative document.
§ Sir John CopeWith the completion of the single market on 1 January 1993, single administrative documents will no longer be required for trade within the European Community. Trade statistics will be collected through the new Intrastat system which is provided for in EC Council regulation 3330/91, published inOfficial Journal L316/1 dated 16 November 1991. This is a framework regulation which leaves many points of detail to implementing regulations which have not yet been finalised. Customs have kept traders in the United Kingdom informed of progress on a regular basis and will issue a public notice in September.
Statistics on trade in goods with non-EC countries will continue to be collected from single administrative documents.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his proposals to introduce criminal penalties for failure to make statistical returns or discrepancies under the Intrastat regulations; and if he will detail those business organisations he has consulted on these proposals and indicate their concerns.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms has consulted the Institute of Directors and the Confederation of British Industry regarding proposals to introduce legislation. Concerns were expressed both about the nature of the proposed regime and the possibility of penalising innocent errors. These concerns are being taken into account in drawing up legislation analogous to the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. The legislation will he introduced as a regulation, made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, to be laid before Parliament this summer.