Social Charter, 1985 To 1987

EDM number 398 in 1991-92, proposed by Graham Allen on 13/12/1991.

That this House notes that the Prime Minister has opted out of the European Social Charter which extends rights for women workers, part-timers and young people; and notes that a Social Charter based on his own record from 1985 to 1987 while a Minister at Social Security would include planning major cuts in benefit which were introduced in 1988, cutting the value of the state earnings-related pension by half for people retiring in eight years time, authorising sweetners for people to opt out of SERPS paid for by the national insurance fund, abolishing benefit entitlements for 16 and 17 year olds and so leading to increased teenage homelessness and crime; introducing the Social Fund, bringing in the 20 per cent. poll tax contribution for people on benefit, cutting mortgage interest payments by half during the first months of unemployment, abolishing disablement benefits for industrially injured people with less than 14 per cent. loss of faculty and abolishing the ú25 universal maternity grant.

This motion has been signed by a total of 50 MPs.