House of Commons Hansard Debates for 29 Apr 1999 (pt 5)

Employment Harmonisation (EU)

15. Mr. John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): When he last discussed with the European Commission the harmonisation of policies to stimulate employment within the EU. [81530]

The Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities (Mr. Andrew Smith): Ministers have regular discussions with the European Commission and other member states, and we are making good progress through the employment guidelines on active labour market policies to promote employability and to combine flexibility with security. However, that progress is being achieved through co-operation, not harmonisation. Employment policy and employment action plans remain the responsibility of individual member states.

Mr. Wilkinson: Are the Government aware that the harmonisation of value added tax on the importation of works of art from outside the European Union will effectively double the rate of VAT on those works and will gravely damage the London art market? Far from encouraging employment, it will destroy jobs in London and throughout the country. What do the Government intend to do about that? Will they ignore the proposal and just accept it blithely, or make a stand for British jobs and the prosperity of the British people?

Mr. Smith: The hon. Gentleman should know that the Government have made vigorous representations in the interests of the British art market. We want to sustain the jobs and the commanding competitiveness that that market enjoys. The employment guidelines to which I referred earlier explicitly include--at the behest of the United Kingdom--the requirement that every regulation be examined to gauge its effect on employment levels. Moreover, we will promote adaptability, flexibility, equal opportunities and entrepreneurship in employment policy. We want to sustain that entrepreneurship in the British art market of which we are so proud.

Mr. Colin Breed (South-East Cornwall): Will co-operation, or the harmonisation or co-ordination of employment policies across Europe, have any effect--good or bad--on the new deal?

Mr. Smith: The employment guidelines promote an active approach to the labour market which guarantees young people who have been out of work for six months the help that they need through an adviser, training programmes and assistance into employment. The good news is that that approach is being extended to other countries. I have received an enormous amount of interest, not just from Europe, but from countries throughout the world, in the achievements of the new deal.

In answer to the accusations that Opposition Members made earlier today, youth unemployment among the eligible group has fallen by more than a third since the new deal was introduced. We have the lowest long-term youth unemployment in this country for 20 years, and we are

29 Apr 1999 : Column 473

proud of the fact that the Labour Government have reduced long-term youth unemployment further in 18 months than the previous Government managed in 18 years.

Education Action Zones

16. Mr. Bill Rammell (Harlow): If he will make a statement on the number of bids received for education action zone status in the latest round. [81531]

The Minister for School Standards (Ms Estelle Morris): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 123 applications, which come from every region in England.

Mr. Rammell: Does the Minister agree that the key benefit of an education action zone is not just the additional money that it brings--although that is welcome--but the fact that it brings parents, teachers and the public and private sectors together to boost educational achievement? That has been my experience in working with schools in Harlow to produce a bid. Will my hon. Friend look carefully at Harlow's bid, which is unique in involving the local cable television network to increase access to the internet? By linking it to schools, it will engage parents more meaningfully in their children's education.

Ms Morris: I agree very much with my hon. Friend. Of course the money allocated to education action zones is welcome but, more importantly, the zones are levers for the sort of partnership that we have not seen in our education service for the past 18 years. When education partners in the community work together, the children in our schools will benefit. I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work that he and his colleagues have done in Harlow. He is correct to say that the bid is unique in using cable

29 Apr 1999 : Column 474

television, but he can imagine the number of requests that I have received from hon. Friends asking me to look carefully at their bids. I assure both him and them that I will do so.

Early Years Education

17. Ms Julia Drown (South Swindon): What steps have been taken to support early years education and quality child care through pre-schools and playgroups. [81532]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Ms Margaret Hodge): I am delighted to put on record the Government's support for pre-schools in the expansion of early years education and quality child care. Pre-schools and playgroups contribute to good quality early education and child care through local early years development and child care plans. The Government have recently announced up to £500,000 in grants to support good pre-schools and playgroups in temporary financial difficulty, and an independent review to identify any barriers that prevent pre-schools and playgroups from developing their role.

Ms Drown: My constituents welcome the Government's investment in early years education. However, pre-schools and playgroups still have to fund-raise and apply for lottery grants to improve their services. Will my hon. Friend assure my constituents that the Government's commitment to improving child care and early years provision will continue as long as they are in power?

Ms Hodge: The answer, clearly, is yes. We hope that the pre-school movement will be able to play its part in ensuring that every child in this country gets the best possible start to their educational experience.

29 Apr 1999 : Column 473

29 Apr 1999 : Column 475

Fiona Jones

Madam Speaker: The House may care to know that it is my understanding that the divisional court has decided that following Fiona Jones's successful appeal against her conviction, the Newark seat is not vacant. If further details of the divisional court's decision are received which add significantly to what I have said, of course I will make a further statement at a convenient time.

29 Apr 1999 : Column 476