HC Deb 14 May 1984 vol 60 c47W
Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made with consideration of Eurpean Economic Community directive 11118/83 regarding parental leave and leave for family reasons since the answer of 30 January, Official Report, column 27; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The draft EC directive on parental leave and leave for family reasons has been submitted to the Council of Ministers for consideration and is now in the course of its first reading in the Council's social questions working group.

The Government's view is that the imposition of general statutory obligations such as those proposed in the draft directive would increase employers' costs and the administrative burden upon them. In doing so, it would tend to damage rather than improve the employment prospects of those it seeks to assist. The Government believe that the issues covered by the draft directive are best dealt with through negotiations between employers and employees rather than by Government or Community intervention.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards parental leave for employees and leave for family reasons; if he plans any extension of the scope and extent of such entitlements; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The Government believe that the family is the basic unit of our society and seek to strengthen it and put a high value on the job of bringing up children. Parental leave and leave for family reasons can have a part to play in this.

However, the Government believe that in the United Kingdom arrangements for parental leave and leave for family reasons are best dealt with through voluntary negotiation between employers and employees, rather than by creating a statutory entitlement to such leave. Legislation would increase the administrative burden on employers and tend to impair the climate for the maintenance of economic recovery by increasing costs and decreasing competitiveness, consequently damaging the employment prospects of those it seeks to assist.