§ 81. Mr. Lordasked the Paymaster General what assessment he makes of the scope, now that the United Kingdom has the presidency of the European Community, for European co-operation in tackling unemployment.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI think that there are now better prospects for European co-operation in tackling unemployment than there have been at any time since we became a member of the European Community. Following the meeting of the Council of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 5 June, at which I tabled the paper "Employment Growth into the 1990s—A strategy for the Labour Market" in conjunction with the Employment Ministers of Italy and the Republic of Ireland. I consider that there is now a substantial prospect of the Council adopting an employment strategy along the lines of the paper during the United Kingdom Presidency. Our aim is that such a strategy should be based on the need to encourage enterprise and self-employment; flexible employment patterns and conditions of work; training; and help for long-term unemployed people.