§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 199, if he will undertake an immediate review of past EC directives to remove all gold plating. [35109]
§ Mr. Boswell[holding answer 2 July 1996]: To review all past legislation implementing every EC directive would be a very substantial undertaking indeed. I do not believe that this would be beneficial or even a necessary exercise; and it would certainly involve disproportionate cost. Ministers in this Department have been fully aware for some time of the need to avoid gold plating of EC measures. Where this has taken place, it has been for clear policy reasons—for example, to provide enhanced 477W protection to UK consumers going beyond minimum European standards. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced to the House on 16 May the publication of a new "implementing EC law checklist". This checklist is designed to ensure that no unnecessary additional burdens are placed on business when EC directives are implemented in the UK.