§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 25 May 1999; and if he will make a statement.[86038]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, myself and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, attended this meeting of the Council.
The Council discussed the Employee Participation Directive element of the European Company Statute package; political agreement was blocked by Spain, which could not agree a key element of the proposal which requires unanimity.
The council reached political agreement on three proposals concerning Working Time (excluded sectors)—the draft horizontal amending Directive, a draft Maritime Working Time Directive and draft Enforcement Directive extending the working time provisions to seafarers. On the horizontal amending Directive, the UK was able to accept a Presidency compromise on junior doctors which would provide a transitional period of thirteen years before the 48-hour limit would apply. The UK maintained its Parliamentary scrutiny reserve on the horizontal amending Directive and lifted the scrutiny reserves on the Maritime Directives. Supplementary Explanatory Memoranda on the horizontal amending Directive and the Maritime Directives will be provided to both Houses as soon as possible.
The Council heard a progress report from the Presidency on an amended proposal for a Council Directive on Physical Agents and information concerning the draft Directive on Explosive Atmospheres.
The Council considered the Presidency's proposal for a European Employment Pact. The Presidency tabled other documents in connection with the Pact: a Presidency Report; a draft Youth Memorandum (noted by Council); a draft Resolution on equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities (political agreement reached); and a draft Directive on Fixed Term Contracts, based on agreement between the European social partners (Council took note of progress). The Presidency circulated the text of a draft Resolution on the Pact for consideration at the Cologne European Council on 3–4 June.
The Social Affairs Council was followed by a joint session of Social Affairs and Economic and Finance Ministers: this was attended by the Secretary of State, me and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The joint Council discussed the proposal for a European Employment Pact.