§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the need for reduced, simpler regulation expressed by her Ministers at the Competitiveness Council of 17 to 18 May refers to(a) deregulation or a cutting back of the Community Acquis and (b) the removal of legal texts that are obsolete without changing their legal status. [178730]
§ Jacqui SmithThe UK attaches great importance to improving and simplifying EU legislation. Simplification can contribute to reducing the negative economic impact of regulation through consolidation and codification of legislation, and through removing obsolete measures. In addition, it is concerned with identifying areas of legislation where burdens may arise from unnecessary complexity, duplication or cross-impacts, and seeking to eliminate these.