Foreign Ministers (Hansard, 22 February 1984)

§ 61. Ms. Harman
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the European Economic Community Foreign Ministers; and what subjects will be discussed.

§ 64. Mr. Parry
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to attend the Council of Ministers of the European Community.

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I next expect to meet my Community colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 to 13 March. It is too early to say what items will be on the agenda but details will be made available by the end of the month in the usual monthly forecast of Community business.

§ Ms. Harman
Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman prepared to put on the agenda the directive on part-time workers that has been in draft for more than two years, about which the Government have been dragging their feet, if not blocking the matter? Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman recognise that most part-time workers are women, trying to cope with the competing demands of a home and a job? It is unfair for such women to be penalised by having inadequate protection against low pay and poor terms and conditions of employment. Will the Government stop blocking the draft directive?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
The Government understand the importance of proper treatment of those in part-time work, and equal treatment between the sexes. The hon. Lady understands that legislation of this sort, especially in relation to the Community, is complex, but I shall bear in mind the points that she made.

§ Mr. Rathbone
Will my right hon. and learned Friend tell the House his attitude towards the British contribution to the European budget when he enters the talks? His reply will also be of benefit to the Chancellor of the Exchequer when couching the Budget in a few weeks' time.

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
The arrangements for future financing are at the heart of the present negotiations. I repeat that our objective is, first, to secure effective control of expenditure generally, and in particular of agricultural expenditure. There is increasingly widespread support for such control throughout the Community. Secondly, we shall seek a fair arrangement for the redistribution of the budgetary burden in the Community. In those circumstances we may be prepared to contemplate an increase in own resources, but, if progress is achieved on all those points, the outcome should be that Britain will pay less than its present contribution.

§ Mr. Faulds
When next the European Foreign Ministers meet, would it not be advisable for them to consider — in view of Israel's continuing aggressive policies in the middle east and disregard of United Nations resolutions — the EEC-Israeli trade and financial agreements, with the possibility in mind of review or even abrogation?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I understand the hon. Gentleman's point of view on that matter. It is a factor that we shall have in mind.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
When my right hon. and learned Friend next meets his colleagues in the European Community, will he discuss with them the dramatic decrease in justice in Zimbabwe, especially the totally unjustified detention of Zimbabwe's first black Prime Minister, Bishop Abel Muzorewa? Will my right hon. and learned Friend seek to persuade his colleagues to put pressure upon Mr. Mugabe's Government, so that justice may prevail in a country that was civilised until a few years ago?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I understand my hon. Friend's concern about that matter. However, it does not arise in the subject matter of these questions in any sense. I believe that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has answered a written question on that topic within the past few days.

§ Ms. Richardson
Going back to the question of the EEC draft directive on part-time workers, does the Foreign Secretary accept that part-time women workers cannot wait much longer? Complex though the situation must be, the Government have had two years in which to consider the directive. How many more years will pass before women are granted equal rights?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I have already told the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman), who asked the question on this matter, of my understanding of the importance attached to it. As the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) knows, this area of Community law involves complex drafting and legislation.