§ 31. Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the United Kingdom signing the social chapter. [1188]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonWe have made clear our commitment to signing up to the Social Chapter. Incorporation of the Chapter into the main EC Treaty and its extension to the UK are being considered within the Inter-Governmental Conference. The target for conclusion of the IGC is the Amsterdam European Council on 16–17 June.
§ 27. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have for signing up to the European social chapter provisions allowing for qualified majority voting. [1184]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonWe have made clear our intention to sign up to all the existing provisions of the Social Chapter. Qualified majority voting already applies to areas such as working conditions, equal opportunities for men and women, and health and safety. but we will not agree any extension of QMV to areas vital to competitiveness.