Mr. ForemanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outcome of the meeting on 6 April of the Social Affairs Council in Luxembourg; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI attended the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 6 April.
One proposal was agreed—a directive relating to the health and safety of workers exposed to biological agents at work. This directive, on the classification of biological agents, will amend the existing directive on the protection of workers from these risks.
A general debate was held on the employment situation in the Community in open session. This stemmed from the Social Affairs Council resolution on unemployment agreed during the United Kingdom presidency. In my remarks, I stressed the need for the Community to have full regard to its wider international competitiveness, and the importance of not damaging the prospects for jobs growth by increased regulation and higher costs.
Most of the rest of the agenda consisted of policy debates on outstanding proposals for directives, including 738W those on European Works Councils and Protection of Young People at Work, on both of which the presidency had raised specific issues for discussion. There was also a brief discussion of outstanding issues on the Working Time Directive. No decisions were taken, but the presidency indicated that it hoped to bring these proposals back to the Council on 1 June.
Finally, there was a brief report from the presidency on the conference on the social dialogue, held in Copenhagen last month, and a progress report on negotiations on a directive on health and safety on fishing vessels.