§ Q78. Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Prime Minister what has been the response of other European Economic Community members to the reservation which she placed at the Luxembourg summit in December on the proposal to extend majority voting to directives dealing with terms and conditions of employment; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterAt the Foreign Affairs Council on 16–17 December, there was a brief discussion in which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, maintained our reserve on the working environment text dealing with the health and safety of workers on the grounds that this article, as drafted, might be used to impose unfair burdens on our small and medium businesses. It has already been agreed to maintain unanimity for directives concerned with harmonisation of laws relating to other rights and interests of employed persons.