Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 29 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 January 2004. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Thursday, 8 January 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 assessment she has made of the effect of the eight week rule on (a) employers and (b) employees; and if she will make it her policy to abolish it.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the 8-week rule on (a) employers and (b) employees; and if she will make it her policy to abolish it. [146177] Mr. Sutcliffe: During the recent review of the Employment Relations Act 1999, the Government looked closely at the operation of protections from dismissal for employees taking lawfully organised official industrial action. The conclusion of that review, as set out in the response to consultation published last month, is that the 8-week rule should be retained and that the Employment Relations Bill will introduce improvements to the existing protections. These changes are designed to ensure, firstly, that days where employees are `locked-out' during official industrial action are disregarded in calculating the 8-week period; and secondly that the procedural steps employers and employees must take under the statute to attempt to resolve a dispute are clear.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 146177; 416 c444W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Industrial relations Industrial disputes Dismissal Protection Strikes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk