Committee questions Lord Mandelson
9 March 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Lord Mandelson gives evidence to the European Scrutiny Committee on the movement of workers between Europe and the UK, from 2pm.
The European Scrutiny Committee has decided to invite a number of ministers to give evidence on the paper entitled 'European Commission’s Communication: The impact of the free movement of workers in the context of EU enlargement'.
At the public meeting the Committee will question Lord Mandelson on recent trends in the movement of workers from other EU Member states to the UK; what discussions the Government has had with the European Commission, other Member States and the UK Trade Unions about the free movement of workers (particularly in the light of the current economic downturn); and the purpose of the 'Posting of Workers Directive' and its impact.
Chairman of the Committee, Michael Connarty, says:
"The aim of the Committee's investigation is to try to get behind the rhetoric and deal with the facts of the impact of Free Movement of Workers in the EU: Why is it allowed? Is it harming the UK? Are British Workers losing Out? These are all key questions at the present time."