§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Paymaster General if the draft parental leave directive falls within the area of jurisdiction to which majority voting will apply following the signature of the Single European Act on 17 February; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeEuropean proposals relating to the rights and interests of employed persons, which include the fraft directive on parental leave, will continue to require unanimous agreement in the Council. of Ministers.
The Government continue to oppose the draft directive on parental leave. We believe that the matters with which it deals are best dealt with between employers and employees according to their priorities, needs, circumstances and what they can afford. We see no case for a regulation on the issue imposing identical arrangements on all businesses in all sectors of industry. We have pointed out, in the European Council, that implementation of the directive would add to employers' costs and increase the administrative burdens on them, thereby damaging the prospects of growth in employment for men and women.