HC Deb 07 June 1988 vol 134 cc700-1
2. Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next intends to meet his opposite numbers in the European Economic Community Employment Council to discuss employment trends and opportunities.

The Minister of State, Department of Employment (Mr. John Cope)

I will be attending the next meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council on Thursday 9 June. I will take that and other opportunities to encourage the Community to stimulate market-led employment growth and to take advantage of the potential in the single European market.

Mr. Dykes

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he confrm that the single European market, starting in four years' time, will create fabulous employment opportunities going beyond the internal growth prospects of each of the member states?

Mr. Cope

Yes, indeed. The recent Cecchini report to the European Commission suggested that there may be 1.25 million to 2.25 million additional jobs. If certain other scenarios are followed, there may be as many as 5 million to 6 million, according to some estimates.

Mr. Cryer

Has not the Common Market been full of promises that have never been fulfilled? Since 1973 there has been a talk of "jobs for the boys" being created, but all we have had is a huge millstone round our neck. Can the Minister tell us how the internal market will remove the £11 billion deficit in manufactured goods? Could not the £4.7 billion that the Government have paid to the Common Market since 1984 have been used to provide more jobs in our country?

Mr. Cope

The single market will improve the situation by improving competition within the Common Market and by giving us a large home market on which to draw.

Sir Peter Emery

Will my hon. Friend consider during his meeting what extra assistance can be given to the creation of jobs in the south-west? That area does not seem to do very well, compared with the rest of the country, in aid from the EEC for job creation.

Mr. Cope

No, but it does not do too badly in terms of jobs. From the Government's point of view, I had the pleasure yesterday of launching "Action for Jobs, South-West", which is intended to emphasise in the south-west what the Government are doing to assist in this matter.