§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the meetings of 17 December between her Minister and 797W (a) the Social Affairs Commissioner in Strasbourg and (b) Members of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament. [27700]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyI met Commissioner Flynn and, separately, Members of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament as part of a series of bilateral contacts in preparation for the UK Presidency of the European Union. I used the opportunity to explain the UK's Presidency priorities in the Social Security field and to listen to the views of both Commissioner Flynn and MEPs about the UK's plans.
I explained that the priorities in the Social Security field would complement the key UK Presidency theme of employability and tackling unemployment. In particular, the UK Presidency would seek to reach agreement on the draft Directive on Supplementary Pensions aimed at protecting pension rights for employed and self-employed people who take up employment in another Member State. The UK would also work towards agreement on legislation and other action to modernise and improve the long-standing rules that coordinate the operation of Member States' statutory Social Security schemes for people moving between Member States.