§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the EU Labour and Social Affairs Council of Ministers meeting on 7 April. [37182]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 20 April 1998]: The Secretary of State for Education and Employment chaired the meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 7 April. The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and I also attended.
There was discussion on National Employment Action Plans, the production of which was agreed at last November's "Jobs Summit" in Luxembourg, and on the Social Affairs Council's role in assessing them in advance of the Cardiff European Council in June 1998.
The Council adopted Conclusions on worker protection from asbestos, calling on the Commission to bring forward proposals. A Directive on the protection of workers from chemical agents was adopted.
The Council adopted a Directive extending to the United Kingdom the Part-time Work Directive, which had been adopted by the other 14 Member States last December under the Agreement on Social Policy. The Council had further discussion on the follow-up to the Davignon report on worker participation under the proposed European Company Statute.
The UK Presidency reported on the informal meeting of Education and Social Affairs Ministers held in London in March.
597WThe Council noted Presidency Conclusions about the Commission's fundamental review of co-ordination of social security for migrant workers.
The Commission made presentations on reform of the Structural Funds; on its Action Plan on Racism and Xenophobia; on sectors excluded from the Working Time Directive; on a draft report from the High Level Group on Industrial Change; on draft amendments to the Carcinogens Directive; and on the PHARE Programme.