HL Deb 08 January 2002 vol 630 cc106-7WA
Baroness Gale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the outcome was of the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 3 December; what the government position was on each issue discussed, including their voting record; and if they will make a statement. [HL2102]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State represented the United Kingdom at the Employment and Social Policy Council in Brussels on 3 December, together with the Minister of State for Employment Relations and the regions, my honourable friend the Member for Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson).

The Council agreed parameters for the simplification of the co-ordination of social security schemes under Regulation 1408/71. The United Kingdom was able to accept the parameters, subject to detailed scrutiny, further negotiations and correction of linguistic points. The parameters will be forwarded to the Laeken European Council. The United Kingdom was also able to endorse the Council's Conclusions indentifying the appropriate legal base for extending co-ordination of social security schemes to nationals of third countries.

The Council reached political agreement on the autumn package of employment measures, comprising the employment guidelines for 2002; recommendations on the implementation of member states' employment policies; and the adoption of the Joint Employment Report for 2001; the package will go to the Laeken European Council for endorsement.

The Council adopted conclusions on indicators on quality in work which will be presented to the Laeken European Council, thus fulfilling the remit from the Stockholm European Council.

The Council adopted a report on indicators of poverty and social exclusion for Laeken; a joint Commission and Council report on social inclusion and a joint report from the Social Protection Committee and the Economic Policy Committee on objectives and working methods in the area of pensions. All three documents will go the the Laeken European Council for adoption.

The Council agreed a common position on amending the Insolvency (worker protection) Directive, to bring it in line with recent jurisprudence.

The Council also agreed to adopt 2003 as the European Year of People with Disabilities.

The Council adopted conclusions on structural indicators, which will be forwarded to the General Affairs Council; indicators on the gender pay gap, and on an EU-level mechanism to help resolve transnational employment disputes.

The Belgian presidency presented a progress report on a Directive on Employee Involvement in the European Co-operative. The presidency reported progress on the Asbestos (worker protection) Directive. A common position is expected to be finalised under the forthcoming Spanish presidency. The Council noted two presidency reports on gender mainstreaming in Council formations and agreed a contribution to work on the broad economic guidelines for 2002, to be forwarded to ECOFIN.

The Council adopted a resolution on the Commission's Green Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility and requested that the outcomes of the current debates at national level be incorporated in the Commission's next communication on this subject.

The Commission gave an overview of its communication on increased labour force participation and active ageing. The Commission presented its communication on lifelong learning.

No votes were taken at this Council.