HC Deb 11 December 1990 vol 182 cc801-2
3. Mr. Knapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's survey into the attitudes of British business men towards European Community proposals on part-time and temporary work.

Mr. Howard

The consultation exercise showed clearly that the vast majority of companies and business organisations that responded recognise that the European Commission's proposals will add very significantly to their costs and will therefore reduce their ability to create and sustain jobs.

Mr. Knapman

Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that, under those proposals, 1.75 million part-time workers who earn less than £46 a week will be required to pay national insurance? How could anybody, employers or anyone else, support such mean measures? What is the Labour party's position on that?

Mr. Howard

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Labour party, in its blind devotion to the social action programme regardless of its consequences, seems to have forgotten totally its repeatedly proclaimed devotion to the cause of the low-paid, who would suffer most from the Commission's proposals.

Mr. Kirkwood

Has the Secretary of State had any feedback from the Confederation of British Industry and employers' organisations about the proposed EC regulations on night working restrictions? Is he aware that 3 million people in the United Kingdom work night hours, and that the restrictions will make matters difficult for some traditional industries, particularly in rural districts, where night working is an essential part of the regime?

Mr. Howard

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right and I welcome his support. His party is not renowned for its determination to stand up to proposals emanating from the European Commission. I hope that we can derive some confidence from his words that the Liberal Democrats will agree with our efforts, supported by the CBI and other organisations, to resist those extremely damaging proposals.

Mr. Batiste

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that this issue highlights the necessity of having a workable and enforceable definition of subsidiarity at the heart of the Community's constitution, so that matters that have to be determined at a European level are limited to those which need to operate across boundaries?

Mr. Howard

In principle, my hon. Friend is absolutely right. But he should not underestimate the difficulties involved in achieving a satisfactory definition of the term.