§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the implementation of the social chapter through European Union legislation. [4460]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyAgreement was reached at the Amsterdam summit to incorporate the agreement on social policy into the treaty and to give the UK an immediate seat at the negotiating table, before the new treaty comes into force.
The Government said at Amsterdam that they will implement the two directives already adopted under the social agreement. The details of how the directives, on European Works Councils and Parental Leave, are to apply to the UK will be agreed before the signature of the new treaty.