HL Deb 10 January 1994 vol 551 c6WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking under the subsidiarity provisions of the Maastricht Treaty to reduce to the minimum harmonisation measures planned for the future, and to review all those already in progress or agreed but not yet implemented.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We presented our views to the Commission for its review of the compatibility of existing EC legislation with the subsidiarity principle. The Commission presented its report to the December European Council, which called for early action to implement it.

Under guidelines agreed at the December 1992 Edinburgh European Council, the Commission must justify on subsidiarity grounds all new proposals for EC legislation, including harmonisation measures. We will make clear our own views on individual measures as and when they are put forward.