§ Mr. Denis Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what reply he has sent to the general secretary of APEX in response to his letter of 9 July upon the subject of the Government's attitude to the Vredeling directive and action taken at the Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. GummerI have informed the general secretary of APEX that the Government are firmly committed to the principle of employees being informed and consulted about matters which affect them, but that they consider that the draft "Vredeling" directive would, if implemented, damage competitiveness and disrupt existing procedures for informing and consulting employees which are working satisfactorily; and that the Government are therefore opposed in principle to this draft directive.