§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what statutory provisions the European Commission determines the limits to monopoly public services for letters or packets to a given upper value or weight. [125700]
§ Dr. HowellsThe statutory provisions under which the European Commission may propose changes to the reserved area for letter post are found in Directive 97/67/EC596W of the European Parliament and the Council dated 15 December 1997, which was made under Articles 57(2), 66 and 100a of the Treaty establishing the European Community (now Articles 47(2), 55 and 95 in the consolidated version of the EU Treaty and the EC Treaty made by the Treaty of Amsterdam). Such proposals are submitted for consideration to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers.