§ 13. Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment which member countries of the European Community have to date not supported the European Community draft directive on voluntary part-time work.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Commission has recently issued a revised proposal. As member states have not yet had an opportunity to state their views on this, it would not be appropriate, or indeed possible at this stage, to specify their attitudes towards it. However, in discussions about the earlier proposal member states have been almost equally divided between those who supported it and those who opposed or had reservations about it.
§ 57. Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the European Community draft directive on voluntary part-time work.
§ Mr. GummerA number of organisations representative of employers and employees were consulted by this Department when the draft Directive was issued. The TUC and Equal Opportunities Commission welcomed the proposal. Employers' organisations have opposed it, however, on the grounds that it would interfere with arrangements freely negotiated between employers and employees, restrict employers' flexibility, increase their costs, and reduce opportunities for part-time work.