Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the meeting held by 668W employment Ministers of the EEC in Venice on 5th November.
§ Mr. John FraserMinisters responsible for employment in member States met informally in Venice on 5th November under Italian chairmanship. I represented the United Kingdom.
The meeting considered the social situation in the Community in advance of the meeting to be held in Brussels on 18th November, at which representatives of the two sides of industry at the European level will meet with Ministers responsible for Employment and Economic Affair—Tripartite Conference.
The meeting at Venice also discussed current work in hand within the Council machinery, including the Commission's proposed action programme in favour of migrant workers and their families, the draft directive on equal treatment for men and women workers and the Commission's proposals for a further intervention by the Social Fund to help the retraining of people in certain industries and regions. No decisions were called for on these subjects but the meeting provided a useful opportunity to review progress of work under preparation for the Council of Ministers.