Release: Immediate
Brussels, 11 November 2003

EU not responsible for classing kilts as skirts

Following press stories today, East Midlands Euro MP, Bill Newton Dunn decided to investigate whether the EU had indeed classed kilts as women's skirts in a recent survey.

"It turns out that this is yet another example of Euro-bashing. It was the UK's own Office of National Statistics that decided upon this classification.

"Eurostat is the EU body responsible for organising the collection of statistics across the EU but does not collect the information itself. In this instance, Eurostat asked the national statistical agencies to collect information on production trends.

"Whilst national statistical agencies must follow guidelines on the collection of information on imports and exports provided by the World Customs Council, they have a degree of flexibility in their interpretation. It is perfectly possible for distinctions to be made between male and female kilts whilst still following these guidelines.

"I hope this will prompt people in the East Midlands to think twice when they hear the EU being blamed yet again for spurious reasons."

ENDS