Young Workers Directive (Hansard, 26 May 1994)

§ Sir Teddy Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the purpose of the young workers directive; under what clause of what treaty it is being introduced; and whether it is subject to unanimity or majority vote in the Council of Ministers.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The draft directive seeks to regulate the working hours and other conditions of employment of young people aged under 18. It has been brought forward as a health and safety measure under article 118a of the treaty of Rome and is subject to qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers.

§ Sir Teddy Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the object of the four-year renewable opt-out to the provisions of the young workers286W directive initially secured by the United Kingdom; when this opt-out was removed by the European Parliament; and what was the vote in Parliament;
(2) what assessment he has made of the proposed young workers directive, as amended by the European Parliament, on the freedom to employ newspaper boys in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The opt-out, which can be renewed six years after the directive is adopted, means that the United Kingdom can continue to follow our existing controls on the hours of work of young people. Newspaper boys and girls will be free to continue to work as they do now. On 9 March 1994 the European Parliament voted by a majority of 275 to delete our opt-out, but it has not been removed because the Parliament can only suggest amendments for directives—such as this—introduced under article 118a of the treaty of Rome. The Council of Ministers will decide the final form of the directive.

§ Sir Teddy Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if the removal of the British opt-out from provisions of the young workers directive is subject to the Maastricht treaty provisions in relation to the power of the Council to remove amendments made by the European Parliament; and what will be the effect of these Maastricht provisions.
(2) if he will take steps to inform (a) newspaper boys and (b) other young people about the effect of the Maastricht treaty provisions on their employment prospects.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The United Kingdom renewable opt-out has not been removed from the draft young workers directive which is not, in any event, affected by the treaty on European Union negotiated at Maastricht.