§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those proposals within the social chapter remit which(a) have been placed before 774W the Council since United Kingdom accession to that Chapter and (b) are currently being drafted; and what has been United Kingdom policy on each. [95296]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Social Chapter proposals placed before the Council since the United Kingdom's accession to that Chapter are
a Commission proposal for a Council Directive concerning a Framework Agreement on Part-time Work (1997/81/EC) was forwarded to the Council on 28 July 1997. The Directive supports the Government's commitment to improving the functioning of the UK labour market by increasing its flexibility while providing a framework of minimum standards for workers.a Directive concerning a Framework Agreement on Fixed-term Work (1999/70/EC) was forwarded to the Council on 30 April 1999. We support the aim of ensuring that fixed term contracts are not abused, while retaining flexibility. In implementing the directive, we will ensure that people's freedom to enter into contracts which suit their circumstances is not limited; and finally,a Commission proposal for a Council directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community (13099/98, COM (98)612) was forwarded by the Commission to the Council on 17 November 1998. The Government is not persuaded of the need for a directive on information and consultation in undertakings operating only at national level, which is difficult to reconcile with subsidiarity and would cut across existing practices in member states to no benefit.I am not aware of any further Social Chapter proposals being drafted by the Commission.