§ 69. Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next be meeting his EEC counterparts to discuss unemployment throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeI met European Commission colleagues on 14–15 March at an informal meeting of Labour Ministers. The meeting discussed a number of EC developments touching on unemployment, notably the future role of the European social fund and employment in the steel industry. I took the opportunity to draw attention to the continuing high level of unemployment across Europe. The next formal meeting will be on 9 June. I will, in the usual way, make a statement following that meeting.