§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Business Environment Simplification Taskforce since its inception; what(a) expenses and (b) salary each received; and if she will make a statement. [91662]
§ Mr. WilsonThe members of the European Commission's Business Environment Simplification Taskforce were as follows:
- Prof Chris Evans (Chairman)(UK)
- Dr Wolfgang Krebs (Austria)
- Ms Kathy Vanhoorne (Belgium)
- Mr Bjrn Meier (Denmark)
- Mr Risto Suominen (Finland)
- Mr Jean Prada (until 17/2/98) and Mr Andre Gauron (from 17/2/98) (France)
- Mr Dieter Philipp (Germany)
- Ms Antigone Lyberaki (Greece)
- Mr Dominic Ellickson (Ireland)
- Mr Carlo Borgomeo (Italy)
- Mr Armand Berchem (Luxembourg)
- Dr Elisabeth Steyger (Netherlands)
- Mr Rui Gomes (Portugal)
- Mrs Elisa Sainz Ruiz (Spain)
- Mrs Camille Forslund (Sweden)
The Taskforce operated from October 1997 to April 1998, when it reported to the Commission. Details of whether the members were paid and the level of their expenses are not readily available from the European Commission.
I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 620W in response to the then hon. Member for Southport, in which I welcomed the Taskforce's recommendations. My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South, who was President 920W of the Board of Trade at the time they were published, had also welcomed the recommendations, which addressed improving the business environment in public administration, education and training, employment and working conditions, finance and research and innovation. Those recommendations have helped Member States and the Commission in their continued endeavours to promote enterprise and ease burdens on companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises.