§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make it his policy that the Council of Ministers should not approve the European Commission Document R/2976/73 on collective dismissals when its contents have been finalised, until it has been brought before the House.
§ Mr. John FraserThe proposals set out in Commission Document R/2976/73 have been amended and were accepted by the Council of Ministers on 17th December. The amended proposals satisfy the United Kingdom policy objectives that I outlined in the House on 11th December. The directive requires that member States shall bring into force within two years of that date laws to implement its provisions.