HL Deb 25 October 1993 vol 549 cc78-80WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give estimates of the amount of costs and the expected financial benefits in respect of (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community as a whole, which are expected to arise from decisions taken at the recent Council of Employment Ministers' meeting.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Lord Henley)

The only item formally agreed at the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council on 12th October in Luxembourg was a directive amending the existing Directive 90/679/EEC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work. An explanatory memorandum was submitted by the Employment Department on the relevant Council document (5058/93) on 24th March 1993. Additional costs to individual employers arising from the amended directive are negligible.

The Council also discussed draft directives on the protection of young workers, on non-standard employment, and on European works councils. On the former, the political agreement reached at the Council exempts the United Kingdom, for a period of six years from the date of adoption of the Directive, from its provisions concerning the working time and night work of young people above minimum school leaving age. This exemption is renewable by a decision of the Council at the end of this period. It follows that the provisions will lead to no immediate costs. The extent to which any other costs arise from the directive will depend on the final terms of its provisions.

The proposed directive on non-standard employment would undoubtedly increase very substantially the costs involved in employing part-time and temporary workers. It would also deter employers from recruiting such workers and consequently reduce their chances of finding work. The Government therefore made it clear at the Council that they are opposed to the draft directive, which requires unanimity for its adoption.

The Council also discussed the draft directive on European works councils, for which unanimity is also required. The Government made clear that they would, if necessary, vote against the text under discussion, which is opposed by employers throughout Europe as being unnecessary, unworkable and damaging to European competitiveness.