Written question asked by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 December 2004. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the administrative costs to UK employers of providing the EU Social Chapter rights; and what methodology she used for calculating the cost. - Inc figures. (Printed with Question No. 202540 in Bound Volume).

Answer: Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the administrative costs to UK employers of providing the EU Social Chapter rights; and what methodology she used for calculating the cost. [202138] Mr. Sutcliffe: DTI has estimated the administrative cost to UK employers of transposing the Social Chapter Directives in its Regulatory Impact Assessments. The Directives in question concern: (1) Parental leave (including the 1999 extension to the implementing Regulations) (2) European Works Councils (3) Part-time work (4) Burden of proof in sex discrimination cases (5) Fixed term employees (6) Information and consultation. The total administrative(or implementation(costs to UK employers associated with the provision of these EU Social Chapter rights is £0.68 million a year. Additionally, the DTI identified one-off implementation costs, estimated to be in the region of £3.3 million. It should be noted that the Department's Regulatory Impact Assessments also highlighted significant benefits associated with the Social Chapter Directives.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 202138; 428 c591-2W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Conditions of employment Administration Costs Employment EU law Social chapter Treaties
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk