HC Deb 05 July 1999 vol 334 cc338-9W
Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken by his Department in response to the proposals being considered by the EC to transfer regulation of platform lifts from the Health and Safety Directive to the Lift Directive. [89546]

Mr. Battle

It is assumed that the question refers to the Machinery Directive (98/37EC) and to the Lifts Directive (95/16/EC). The Services of the European Commission have been preparing a draft Proposal for simplification of the Machinery Directive but no formal Proposal for amending the Machinery Directive has been adopted yet by the Commission or presented to the Council of Ministers.

It is understood that the measure may seek to clarify the scope of the Directive in relation to a number of other Single Market Directives including the Lifts Directive.

The Government would welcome simplification and clarification in principle but would need to study the precise terms of any such Proposal before they could give a view on their merits.