asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is conducting an audit of paperwork requirements imposed by his Department, or by agencies under his aegis, on business; if so, when the audit commenced; the named officer, if any, in charge of the audit; if any report thereon has yet been presented to the Minister for Industry and Commerce; if so, the contents thereof; if any practices or regulations have yet been altered as a result of the audit; if so, the details thereof; if he has prepared any report on the compliance costs to industry of legislation being prepared by his Department; the way in which these reports compare in content, scope or purpose with reports on this subject already required by decisions of the previous Government; and if he will outline the subjects being covered by the audit now being conducted in his Department.

The Government have recently decided that each Minister should initiate a programme to review the statutory and information requirements of his Department and the bodies under their aegis which impact on business and industry. My Department is currently engaged in carrying out such a review, which is being co-ordinated by the administration division. As it will take some time before results are available, I am not yet in a position to give the Deputy any further details in the matter.