§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what part his Department played in the formulation of the Treaty of Amsterdam material concerning(a) qualified majority voting in employment matters and (b) the treatment of employment as a matter of common concern; and if he will make a statement. [17017]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe Department for Education and Employment played a full part in the formulation of the UK position on the new Employment Chapter in the Amsterdam Treaty, in conjunction with other interested Departments.
The Government's objectives at the Amsterdam European Council in relation to employment were: to agree a new Employment Chapter; to ensure that tackling unemployment is a priority for the EU; and to secure recognition of the importance of employability and flexible labour markets in any employment strategy.
All these objectives were met.