§ Mr. SteenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will complete the scrutiny report on the operation of EC law in the United Kingdom; who is engaged in the review; when it will be published; and what action he is proposing to take to eliminate over-zealous interpretation by Whitehall officials of EC directives.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe scrutiny report on the implementation and enforcement of EC law in the United Kingdom, which was undertaken by an inter-departmental team of officials, was published on 20 July of this year. The period for consultation elapsed on 30 September. The Government are preparing an action programme in the light of consultation. We shall be publishing our response by the end of the year. This will include guidance on the negotiation and implementation of EC law in the United Kingdom, aimed at eliminating over-zealous interpretation.