Mr. 'SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) Commission proposals and (b) fiches d"impact there were in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [17087]
§ Mr. JackFull details of the proposals issued by the European Commission were published in its 1993 and 1994 general reports on the activities of the European Union, paragraphs 1025 and 1202 respectively. The Commission does not publish similar, information on762W fiches d'impact. However, in line with central requirements, MAFF actively presses the Commission to prepare fiches for legislative proposals which have the potential to impose substantial burdens on business.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, columns 775–808, what consideration underlay the decision not to produce a fiche d"impact in relation to industry costs for the minced meat directive: and what steps are being taken to ensure that in each member state for every directive the Community produces a fiche d"impact concerned with the likely cost to industry of implementation. [17090]
§ Mrs. BrowningIt is for the Commission to explain the considerations behind its decision not to produce a fiche d"impact when it proposed the minced meat directive in 1990. In commenting on the Commission"s annual work programme, the Government identify legislative proposals which have the potential to impose substantial burdens on business and urges the European Commission to prepare fiches d"impact where it has not volunteered to do so in the programme. MAFF, like other Departments, actively presses the Commission to prepare fiches at the earliest practicable point in the process.