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adequate preparation for such a conference, agreed at the Madrid meeting, had not taken place. There needed to be prior discussion of the substance, including the views which had been set out in the United Kingdom's paper on the subject. Reports suggested that Chancellor Kohl had different ideas on procedure.

He favoured setting an end date for the conference and wanted it also to examine institutional questions such as an increase in the powers of the European Parliament. Having made this position public, it would be less easy for him to retreat from It would, at least, confuse the issue and should make it easier for the Prime Minister to maintain her position without press being able to present it as a straight confrontation ween the United Kingdom and the other Member States.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT said it was wrong to regard the Social Charter as a mere declaration without substantive consequences. This was demonstrated by the Commissions action programme to implement the Charter, which had been briefly discussed at the meeting of the Social Affairs Council 3 November. It comprised 43 legal instruments, including

diectives. Some of these, such as those on

But

health and gay at work, would probably be acceptable. regulation oftions of employment, such as hours of work, part-time workerkime and holidays, would be completely contrary to the Goverment's policies. He believed that the Government's position was grudgingly accepted, even respected, by other Member Sta

in the Community. reduce this figure: result in job losses.

There were 14 to 15 million unemployed Amagined the Social Charter would

contrary, it would inevitably

ENT

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY said that only 35 Single Market measures had so far been adopted under the French Presidency, a relatively poor performance. The French faced a dilemma between their liking for i-managed markets and their

need to demonstrate success in tiresidency. He hoped the latter would lead them to seek agreement on a significant package of further measures before the end of the year. This would still leave much to be done. It was notable that far more progress had been made in securing free movement of goods than in removing barriers to services, an are of greater potential benefit for the United Kingdom particular, progress was needed on insurance, transport and takeovers. Attention would also have to be paid to implementing measures once they had been adopted: the United Kingdon with the Danes, was good in contrast to that of Member States including France and Germany.

record, along other

In discussion it was pointed out that transport hadrong een on the United Kingdom's list of priorities for action, shipping and road haulage markets here were already lib The progress at the Transport Council was welcome, even

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