§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to his Department that have been implemented in each of the last four years, specifying(a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each. [39120]
The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateThe Women and Equality Unit in the Cabinet Office has been responsible for implementing the Burden of Proof Directive (EC Directive 97/80/EC). However, the relevant statutory instrument, which came into force on 12 October 2001, was laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women, who has overall responsibility for women and equality issues.
Directive 97/80/BC has effect in UK law by Council Directive 98/52/BC and is implemented in the UK through the Sex Discrimination (Indirect Discrimination And Burden of Proof) Regulations 2001. Its aim is to ensure that any measures implementing the principle of equal treatment are made more effective, thereby providing victims of sex discrimination with effective access to justice. The directive also defines the concept of indirect discrimination.
We do not hold cost information in the form requested in part (b) of the question and that information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
Departments are required to produce regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) for all proposals, including those originating in European legislation, likely to impose significant costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. DTI prepared an RIA for the regulations in 497W question, which showed the cost to an employer who is not discriminating should be nil. A copy of the RIA has been placed in the House Libraries.