HC Deb 18 April 1989 vol 151 cc136-7W
22. Mr. Ground

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the Employment Ministers of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to discuss levels of employment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

There are no current plans for joint meetings with Ministers from other member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Levels of employment in the United Kingdom compare very favourably with those of other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. In the United Kingdom, a greater proportion of the population is in employment than is the case in our major European competitors and in many other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. This is partly the result of the rapid employment growth we have enjoyed since 1983.

28. Mr. Hanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the Employment Ministers of the United Kingdom's European Community partners to discuss levels of unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

48. Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he proposes to meet the Employment Ministers of the European Community to discuss the social proposals of the European Final Act; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

I refer my hon. Friends to my statement on the last European Community Social Affairs Council, which appeared in theOfficial Report on 12 April 1989 at column 588. The next meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers will be on 12 June at a meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council. The United Kingdom will continue its efforts to ensure that training and employment growth are Community priorities. In the meantime, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are continuing our programme of bilateral contacts with members states.

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