§ 24. Mr. JanmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the employment and economic implications for small shops of the proposals to amend the European Commission's working time directive to make Sundays and weekends compulsory rest days.
§ Mr. ForthThe European Commission has told the European Parliament that in view of different traditions and practices they do not recommend that weekly rest days should be harmonised across the Community. The United Kingdom Government believe a blanket prohibition of Sunday or weekend working would be extremely damaging to the interests of consumers and employers generally.
§ Anthony Coombs25. Mr. To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will announce current progress on the operation of training and enterprise councils.
§ Mr. HowardExcellent progress is being made in setting up training and enterprise councils. All 82 TECs in England and Wales are now in place, with 46 fully operational. By summer, the full network will be fully operational, almost two years ahead of schedule.