To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if repeated rejection of recommendations made under Article 128 of the treaty establishing the European Community will be judged to be a breach of the common concern principle; and if he will make a statement. [17289]

Recommendations adopted under Article 128 (old Article 109q) of the Treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam will have no binding force, and thus create no binding obligations on Member States. We fully endorse the principles set out in Article 125 (old Article 109n) which encourage the promotion of

"a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and labour markets responsive to economic change".