HC Deb 08 February 1996 vol 271 c464
13. Mr. Robathan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from business leaders regarding the economic implications of the social chapter. [12648]

Mr. Waldegrave

The overwhelming majority of British businesses support the Government's decision to reject the social chapter because of its adverse effects on jobs and prosperity.

Mr. Robathan

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. Tomorrow, a group of senior business men will publish their opinions on the economic implications of various EU policies, including the ludicrous social chapter and the single currency. Will my right hon. Friend examine that publication and consider carefully the opinions therein of those senior business men?

Mr. Waldegrave

I shall certainly do so. I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the Confederation of British Industry survey of the year before last, which showed that the majority of companies firmly opposed the social policy measures then under discussion under the social chapter. I am sure that their opinions have not changed.

Mr. Pike

Will the Minister recognise that the majority of people want a Government who want fair pay and working conditions, and that they will be glad when the present Government go?

Mr. Waldegrave

I believe that the majority of people want a fair chance to obtain jobs and that they know that they come in an enterprise economy, not an over-regulated, over-taxed economy, which the Labour party would give us, and did give us when the country had the misfortune to have a Labour Government.

Mr. Mans

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the main difference between the Government's approach to the social chapter and the opposition parties' approach to the social chapter is that we want to leave it up to individual firms to decide whether to take up parts of that legislation, whereas they want to impose it on everyone?

Mr. Waldegrave

That is entirely right. I am glad that the Leader of the Opposition has joined us because he showed himself to be profoundly ignorant of what the social chapter meant when he spoke to the CBI about it.