European Social Policy

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 7 Chwefror 1995.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Michael Portillo Mr Michael Portillo , Enfield, Southgate 12:00, 7 Chwefror 1995

We have high levels of health and safety protection, and I am proud of them, but I cannot agree with my hon. Friend that the social policies of the European Community are built on health and safety matters. The social chapter is an ambitious attempt to build a social dimension into Europe—that is, to impose very high costs on employers for Governments to develop social policies that they cannot afford and to impose them on employers, and to achieve that by a massive extension of qualified majority voting. Only when they have not been able to achieve that by the social chapter, because of Britain's opt-out, have they resorted to health and safety chapter headings. In at least one case, I thought it to be so wholly inappropriate that I am contesting it in the European Court.