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THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT said that, at the Social Affairs Council on 30 October, no vote had been taken on the Social Charter. He had maintained the United Kingdom's reserve on the substance of the Presidency text which presented a number of major difficulties. The Charter

ould again be discussed by the Social Affairs Council on 30 November: before then the Commission would bring forward (its action programme of proposals. This was likely to run to some 40 to 50 pages and would therefore be helpful in destroying the argument that the proposed Charter was intended to be simply declaratory. The Charter would again be discussed at the European Council on 8 December. Press comment following the Council had generally supported the United Kingdom's line. Nevertheless the pressure needed to be maintained.

In discussion it was noted that Sir Leon Brittan was opposed to the detailed Charter and had given an excellent speech which would be circulated to colleagues. It would be helpful if sit Leon could be encouraged to speak on British television to reiterate his point of view. The fundamental question/was whether President Mitterrand did or did not want a charter acceptable to the United Kingdom. At Chequers, the President had proposed an approach which sought to identify what the UK could agree

this might include some aspects of the council of Europe Declaration. Unfortunately, his Ministers had not followed this approach. In the light of the council the Prime Minister would now write to President Mitterrand setting out, in detail, what the United Kingdguld agree to as part of a voluntary Charter.

The Cabinet -

Took note.

TIAL

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH ON THE PENING OF ARLIAMENT

5. The Cabinet considered a Memorandum by the ord President of the Council (C(89) 12) to which was attached a draft of The Queen's Speech on the opening of (the) 1989-90 Session of Parliament.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL said that the draft Speech had been drawn up in the usual way by the Queen Speeches and Future Legislation Committee (QL) and was based on the legislative programme which the Cabinet had approved on 5 October. The Speech was slightly longer usual, reflecting the United Kingdom's involvement in a number of significant international developments and the very heavy legislative programme for the 1989/90 Session. It mentioned most of the Bills in the programme and some

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