Redundancy (EEC Directive)

Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 July 1974.

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Photo of Mr Robert Redmond Mr Robert Redmond , Bolton West 12:00, 9 July 1974

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why a reserve was placed on the EEC directive on redundancy.

Photo of Mr John Fraser Mr John Fraser , Lambeth Norwood

I explained at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 10th June that the Government were undertaking a fundamental review of industrial relations legislation. In the light of this the Council decided to postpone discussion of the draft directive until its next meeting.

Photo of Mr Robert Redmond Mr Robert Redmond , Bolton West

In the light of that reply and the reply on the previous Question, particularly the supplementary question by the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr. Lawson), is it not obvious that the Government intend to smother all the positive aspects of the Common Market and to keep them from the people of this country?

Photo of Mr John Fraser Mr John Fraser , Lambeth Norwood

That suggestion is quite ludicrous. I explained to the Council of Ministers, and I do not apologise for this, that there were certain proposals which I thought it better to discuss with people in this country—the trade unions and employers—before coming to any decision at Luxembourg. That was no part of any renegotiation stance. It was the right attitude to adopt: to talk about these matters here first and later to make decisions at Luxembourg.