Thank you for your Explanatory Memorandum 15055/07 which was considered by Sub-Committee A at their meeting on 11 December. The Sub-Committee are particularly interested in this topic and agree with you that an increase in the statistical burden on businesses should be resisted. The Sub-Committee decided to hold this item under scrutiny and would be grateful if you could provide updates on negotiations when they are available. The Sub-Committee would also be grateful if you could provide the full impact assessment when it is prepared.

11 December 2007

  Thank you for your letter of 11 December regarding the above proposal.

  I am now able to update you on the negotiations regarding the proposed regulation which was discussed for the first time at a Council Working Party in Brussels on 15 January.

  There was considerable discussion on Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13. Six other Member States shared the UK's reservations about providing quota information but there was no support for the specific concerns in Articles 5 and 6 about providing data on the Currency of Invoicing for exports and the Nature of Transaction Code. The Commission will produce a revised draft of these Articles and they will then be subject to further consideration. Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11 and 12 were all adopted.

  The Impact Assessment setting out an estimated cost of the regulation to UK business is provided (not printed).

23 March 2008

  Thank you for your letter and the Impact Assessment of 23 March 2008. These were considered by Sub-Committee A at their meeting on 22 April. The Sub-Committee took note of your report on the progress of negotiations and decided to continue to hold the item under scrutiny. The Sub-Committee would be grateful if you could provide updates on negotiations as they continue.

22 April 2008