§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress being made on follow up work on the Delors White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment.
228W
Year ended 31 March Handguns Rifles Shotguns CS Gas canisters Stun guns Total 1984 908 155 10 152 11 1,236 1985 150 52 7 174 2 385 1986 108 156 11 141 30 446 1987 1,071 28 21 114 291 1,525 1988 168 31 6 276 309 790 1989 130 55 28 395 73 681 1990 1,489 144 44 414 301 2,392 1991 253 535 49 1,132 48 2,017 1992 176 126 82 692 53 1,129 1993 138 41 39 2,580 427 3,225 1994 304 349 68 6,266 216 7,203 Totals 4,895 1,672 365 12,336 1,761 21,029
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Brussels European Council in December 1993 discussed the Commission's White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment. The presidency conclusions of the Council set out a framework for action, mainly by member states, to tackle unemployment and improve the European Community's competitive position. The main elements of this framework concern structural reform of labour markets; deregulation; completion of the single market; and work on a programme of infrastructure projects—trans-European networks. I welcome the shift in the Community's agenda towards priorities advocated by the Government which this framework represents. The Council of Economic and Finance Ministers will discuss progress on 16 May and 6 June, in preparation for the Corfu European Council. I shall be reiterating the importance which the Government attach to effective implementation of the Brussels European Council conclusions, on a basis consistent with the principle of subsidiarity, and shall be seeking further progress in a number of areas.