§ Lord Goldsmithasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 November. [HL4841]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities and my honourable friend the Minister for Competitiveness represented the UK at the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 November.
This was a busy Council, the most significant item being the agreement brokered on the Social Policy Agenda, which identifies the main priorities in the field of social policy for the next five years. The agreed text, to be sent to the Nice European Council for adoption, emphasises the goals agreed at the Lisbon Council in March, in particular in the areas of employment, social inclusion and the use of the open co-ordination approach.