§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home department how he ensures that the negotiating brief for his officials discussing EU legislation takes fully into account the need to minimise the burdens on United Kingdom business. [13711]
§ Mr. HowardGuidance on how officials are to apply deregulatory principles when negotiating European Community regulations is contained in the booklet "Getting a Good Deal in Europe". This guidance has been supplemented by the recent publication of guidance on the preparation of compliance cost assessments, which stresses that the likely burdens on business highlighted by United Kingdom compliance cost assessments of EC proposals should be integral to the United Kingdom's negotiating strategy. Copies of both pieces of guidance are in the Library.