§ Miss McintoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he proposes to secure the completion of a single market; and to what timetable. [27682]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 4 February 1998]I have been asked to reply.
The Single Market Action Plan produced last year by the Commission sets out the key priorities to ensure an effective Single Market. All Member States have committed themselves to a timetable to catching up with delays in implementing Single Market law by the end of this year. As chairman of the Internal Market Council during the UK Presidency, the Minister for Trade and Competitions in Europe will be leading the efforts to achieve this timetable. There has also been close co-ordination with Austria to ensure that momentum is kept up in the second half of the year. However, there will still be a need for work to ensure the Single Market is working effectively and responsive to new markets: also that the rales are being properly enforced and are not over-complicated. There will also be a need for legislation for new technologies as they emerge. Progress in these areas will be a top priority for the UK Presidency.