§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Internal Market Council meeting held in Luxembourg on 5 April.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonI attended the second Internal Market Council of the Danish Presidency in Luxembourg on 5 April. The Council had a relatively substantial agenda. We managed to make progress on, and defend, a number of significant United Kingdom interests.
The Council adopted directives covering explosives, doctors' diplomas and motorcyle brakes. We succeeded in postponing a decision on a proposal to establish a 100 bhp maximum power limit for motor cycles until at least the June Council. We do not consider that the limit is justified on safety grounds.
Common positions were reached on directives covering public supply contracts, unauthorised use and statutory markings of motor cycles, and cable and satellite broadcasting. This last measure together with discussion of a proposed directive on the harmonisation on the term of copyright protection, allowed us to reach agreement on a text on film authorship which protects United Kingdom interests, notably those of film producers.
I emphasised our opposition to important elements of the European company statutory proposal. We continue to oppose the proposed worker participation directive; the legal base of the measures; and certain important technical aspects of the regulation.
Unfortunately, most other member states wish to continue work on the proposals.
412WThere was a wide-ranging televised open debate on the subject of the single market after 1992. The United Kingdom, in line with all other member states emphasised the importance of making the single market work effectively. No operational conclusions were drawn.
The Commission reported that the overall rate of implementation of white single market measures has now risen to 83 per cent. The United Kingdom is in third position, with an 88 per cent. implementation record.
Political agreement to extend the transitional period to mid-1995 for the entry into force of the personal protective equipment directive will assist industry by giving it more time to meets its requirements. Motorcycle helmets are now expected to be excluded from the scope of the directive, with the Commission due to provide specific separate proposals within the next six months. Political agreement on the CE conformity marking for industrial products is subject to parliamentary scrutiny reserves.
The next formal meeting of the Council will take place on Monday 14 June.