§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade which minister represented the United Kingdom at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 18 May; and what was Her Majesty's Government's policy on the chocolate draft directive. [45669]
§ Mrs. RocheLord Simon chaired the Council. William Stow, Deputy Director General, Trade Policy and Europe, in the Department of Trade and Industry, represented the UK.
In our Presidency, the Government continue to seek an agreed solution on chocolate which fully respects all established manufacturing traditions within the Member States. Whilst some progress has been made, agreement has been blocked by five Member States who object to the addition of non-cocoa vegetable fats to chocolate. Since the May Council there have been signs that some of these countries may be reconsidering their position, and our efforts to negotiate an acceptable common position are continuing.