§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 371, about scrutiny of activities of countries of the European Community, what official debate there has been on the proposed EC Council directive on mechanisms for informing and consulting employees in Community-scale undertakings or groups of undertakings prior to the Social Affairs Council of 19 April; and what draft reports have been available to hon. and right hon. Members.
§ Mr. NewtonThe European Commission's proposal for the establishment of European Works Councils— 541W Council document reference 4466/91—was debated in European Standing Committee B on 3 July 1991. Both it and the subsequent amended proposal—Council document reference 8319/91—have been the subject of explanatory memoranda by the Department of Employment as follows:
4466/91: Explanatory memoranda dated 4 February and 6 March 1991;8319/91: Explanatory memoranda dated 18 November 1991, 29 January 1992, 24 March, 20 May and 22 October 1993.The Commission informed the Council on 19 April of its intention to table a revised version of the proposal under the agreement on social policy concluded between 11 member states. The revised proposal will not apply in the United Kingdom.