§ Mr. FavellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is his estimate of the cost of implementation of the European Community social action programme in its present form to(a) the Exchequer and (b) British industry;
(2) what is his latest estimate of the effect on employment of implementation of the European Community social action programme in its present form;
(3) what is his latest estimate of the effects on jobs of the implementation of the European Community's social charter in its present proposed form.
§ Mr. ForthOnly half the European Commission's proposals under the social action programme have been published so far. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate the effect of the programme as a whole on industrial or Exchequer costs.
However, it is already estimated that the implementation of the proposed directives on working time, part-time work and pregnant women would alone add £3.5 billion initially to United Kingdom employers' costs.
The Commission's proposals would damage the international competitiveness of British and Community industry, would have a substantial adverse effect on employment and would reduce the adaptability of the labour market.
The social charter, signed by the other 11 member states, was a political declaration and has no legally binding effect. The charter has, however, had the undesirable effect, predicted at the time by the Government, of encouraging the Commission to produce damaging proposals under its social action programme.