§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that they will support the allocation of funds through the European Commission to help people and companies in the customs brokers sector, whose current work will be severely affected by the completion of the single market in a few weeks.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)A regulation creating a 30 mecu fund to help customs agents adapt to the single market was adopted at the Internal Market Council on 17th December. The fund will contribute towards a variety of training, business support and local economic development measures in the areas hardest hit. The Department of Trade and Industry will be responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of this programme and is consulting interested parties about how the available money may effectively be spent.