§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement438W on the outcome of the Social Affairs Council on 9 March indicating the position taken by the UK Government on each issue discussed. [76195]
§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [76749]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was unable to attend this meeting of the Council due to the timing of the Budget. I attended in his place.
The morning session consisted of a meeting with Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs from the candidate countries of central and eastern Europe and Cyprus to discuss their pre-accession priorities for action in the social and employment fields.
In the afternoon, the Presidency gave an oral report on the informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry and I attended in Bonn on 4–6 February. The Presidency also reported on its ideas for a European Employment Pact.
The Council noted the 1999 Work Programme for the Employment and Labour Market Committee and adopted a Decision to reform the Standing Committee on Employment by streamlining its operations and aligning its remit with the European employment strategy.
The Council reached political agreement on a draft Resolution on a Code of Conduct between authorities concerning the combating of social security fraud and undeclared work, and on the transnational hiring-out of workers.
The Presidency reported on the negotiations on the European Commission's proposals for organising the working time of the sectors excluded from the scope of the Working Time Directive. I raised UK concerns that any proposals should not undermine the delivery of health care in the NHS.
The Presidency outlined its plans to secure agreement on employee involvement within the European Company Statute.