HC Deb 10 April 2001 vol 366 cc575-6W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what studies have been made by institutions of the European Union concerning the demographic challenge referred to in paragraph 7 of the Presidency Conclusions of the Stockholm European Council. [157335]

Ms Jowell

I welcome the references in the Stockholm Conclusions to demography and active ageing, particularly the call at paragraph 9 for a joint report by 2002 covering this topic. I understand that European institutions have undertaken a range of studies, including a European Commission communication published in October 2000 and entitled "Communication on the future evolution of social protection from a long-term point of view: Safe and sustainable pensions". The Economic Policy Committee produced a report on a similar theme on 6 November 2000 entitled "Progress report to the ECOFIN Council on the impact of ageing populations on public pensions". A more technical overview is given by the Commission's Economic Paper 138, published in November 1999 by K. McMorrow and W. Roeger, entitled "The economic consequences of ageing populations" Further information on these and related documents can be found on the European Union's "Europa" website.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment where the new European Social Agenda, referred to in paragraph 25 of the Presidency Conclusions of the Stockholm European Council adopted at Nice was published; and what changes are envisaged in EU social policy in the next five years. [157337]

Ms Jowell

The new European Social Agenda was published as Annexe 1 to the Presidency Conclusions of the Nice European Council Meeting held on 7, 8 and 9 December 2000. This is easily accessible through the European Union "Europa" website. A text of the European Social Agenda was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 19 December 2000.

The European Social Agenda sets out a framework and proposals to modernise European social policy over the next five years. Many of the proposals will contribute directly to the Lisbon strategic goal of becoming "The most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world", for example commitments to increasing employability through lifelong learning, and addressing skills shortages, particularly in ICT.

The initiative now lies with the Commission to bring forward individual proposals. The UK Government will continue to scrutinise each proposal as it is brought forward to ensure that it has a proper treaty base.