§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the status in United Kingdom law of the social contract, to which reference is made in the Treaty of Maastricht.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyArticles on social policy have been part of the Treaty of Rome since its inception. The United Kingdom fully accepted them and they were incorporated into British law when we joined.
The social charter was agreed by 11 member states in 1989. It has no Community legal status, since it is a declaration of 11. The UK did not accept the social charter and it is not incorporated in UK law.
The social agreement allows the 11 member states who are parties to the social charter to continue on the path laid down by the charter. The social protocol specifically ensures that acts adopted by the 11 will not apply to the UK.