HC Deb 23 October 2003 vol 411 cc705-6W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the non-discriminatory treatment of disability issues alongside other equal opportunity issues will form part of the United Kingdom's position in negotiations on the EU constitution. [129980]

Maria Eagle

The existing Treaty provides a good basis for legislation to combat various forms of discrimination including discrimination against disabled people.

Agriculture Extractive and utility supply Manufacturing
Year/Employment status Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury
1997–98
Employee 1 1 36
Self-employed
Member of the public 1
Total 1 1 37
1998–99
Employee 4 1 22
Self-employed
Member of the public 1 2
Total 5 1 24
1999–2000
Employee 1 14
Self-employed
Member of the public 1
Employee 1 14
2000–01
Employee 3 2 1 14
Self-employed 1
Member of the public
Total 4 2 1 14
2001–02
Employee 2 1 17
Self-employed
Member of the public
total 2 1 17

construction services All industries
Year/Employment status Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury
1997–98
Employee 1 52 2 153 3 243
Self-employed 1 1
Member of the public 3 1 203 1 207
Total 1 56 3 356 4 451
1998–99
Employee 1 76 161 2 263
Self-employed 1 1
Member of the public 4 190 197
Total 1 81 351 2 461

Legislation under the Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Community can only be adopted by the unanimous agreement of member states. This allows for the wide diversity between member states' social systems to be respected as demonstrated by the provisions of the Race and Employment Directives adopted by the Community in 2000. Our view is that the existing voting arrangements should be retained in the Intergovernmental Conference.