HC Deb 19 May 2003 vol 405 c533W
Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment agencies have submitted responses to her Department's consultation paper on the EU Commission proposals for a directive on the working conditions of temporary (agency) workers; and if she will make a statement. [113498]

Alan Johnson

15 employment agencies submitted responses to the Consultation On The Proposed Directive on Temporary (Agency) Work.

The Government are not opposed in principle to the proposed directive on temporary agency work, but are keenly aware of the potential impact on UK agencies and agency workers of a Directive that takes no account of conditions in the UK labour market. The Government are pressing very hard for the UK's legitimate concerns to be recognised.