§ Q49. Sir David PriceTo ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy towards the equalisation of pension age for men and women as proposed in the draft directive of the European Community entitled "Equal Treatment for Men and Women in Pensions and other Benefits"; and what attitude towards the proposal she will adopt in the Council of Ministers.
§ The Prime MinisterAt the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on 12 June neither France nor the United Kingdom were able to lift their reserves on this draft directive. Consequently the draft directive will not be discussed at the Council of Ministers but will be referred back for further work by officials. The House of Lords Select Committee on the European Community published its report on this draft directive earlier this month and the Government will respond to that report in due course.