I am grateful for my hon. Friend's warning that we are about to have the Christmas Adjournment, not the summer Adjournment.

Will my hon. Friend continue to work hard on those programmes? It is important that Britain is not seen to be objecting in principle to social programmes being discussed in the European Community, which is sensible. We want to ensure that application of the programme is based on national guidelines and does not cut across what would normally be a fierce national political debate between parties. That is what my hon. Friend should be saying to the Commission in relation to the programme.