HC Deb 17 June 1999 vol 333 cc204-5W
23. Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates his Department has made of the cost of the(a) social chapter's parental leave directive, (b) works councils directive and (c) part-time work directive to British business. [86518]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Employment Relations Bill estimated the recurring compliance costs to business of the Parental Leave to be £28.8 million.

A Compliance Cost Assessment was attached to the Explanatory Memoranda submitted to this House and another place on 28 October 1997 in relation to the European Works Councils Directive. The Government are carrying out further work to update and refine those estimates which will be published shortly as part of a consultation exercise on the implementation.

A Compliance Cost Assessment was attached to the Explanatory Memorandum submitted to this House on 17 March 1998 in relation to the part-time work directive. As stated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Employment Relations Bill, there is evidence to suggest that discrimination is not wide spread and costs should therefore be low. A Regulatory Impact Assessment will accompany the draft Regulations.