§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2466]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 27 November 1995]: The information requested is in the table.
876W
Number HM Treasury Statutory Instruments made during 1994–95 Session: of which: 28 a. Constituted a new rule or regulation: 7 b. Introduced to implement and EC Directive: of which: 5 c. Amplified minimum standards set out in Directive: 0 Inland Revenue Statutory Instruments made during 1994–95 Session: of which: 71 a. Constituted a new rule or regulation; 41 b. Introduced to implement and EC directive: of which: 0 c. Amplified minimum standards set out in directive: 0 HM Customs and Excise Statutory Instruments made during 1994–95 Session: of which 56 a. Constituted a new rule or regulation; 44 b. Introduced to implement and EC directive: of which: 21 c. Amplified minimum standards set out in directive; 12 1 Comprising i. The Excise Goods (Drawback) Regulations 1995. These regulations implement Council Directive 92/12/EEC. and set out in more detail the UK requirements and procedures for reimbursement of excise duty; and ii. The Travellers' Reliefs (Fuel and Lubricants) Order 1995. This restricts duty free movement of fuel in standard tanks of commercial vehicles to fuel on which the fuel was acquired, at a rate that is appropriate to the use to which the fuel was acquired, at a rate that is appropriate to the use to which the fuel is being, or is intended to be, put. This Order implemented Directive 94/74/EEC which did not make it clear that the relief of duty should only apply to fuel released for consumption at the rate appropriate to its use or intended use. Customs had to seek formal clarification of this point before the Order could he laid. It should be noted that whilst these two Statutory Instruments amplify the provisions of the European directives which they implement, they do so in order to clarify, and provide greater certainty, as to their meaning. Neither has the effect of "gold plating", or adding additional burdens, to those required by the directives.