§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to block EC plans to prohibit child labour.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Viscount Ullswater)The European Commission has proposed a Council directive on the protection of young people at work. The Department of Employment issued a consultation document on the Commission's proposals on 18th November. The draft directive contains provisions on the employment of children and young persons below the age of 18. For children (defined in the draft directive as young persons of less than 15 years of age) the provisions are broadly similar to existing legislation in the United Kingdom on the employment84WA of children below the minimum school-leaving age. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health has the main policy responsibility for this legislation in England. Her Majesty's Government question, on grounds of subsidiarity, whether there is a need for Community legislation on the employment of children and young people.