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Employment Bill [HL]

There is no difference in principle at the root of our disagreement. I wholly accept the intendment of the amendment. However, I worry that it could have an effect which it does not seek, and that it appears that ACAS will now enter a far more generic role with its thing on the internet and all that. I am totally in favour of mediation, as I sought to explain in relation to my experiences of these matters in court; if they can be sorted out without going to court, that is always the best thing to do. Perhaps the Minister could confirm this, but I understand that ACAS will have a wider role which will in no way inhibit mediation at any stage if it is apparent. In other words—I do not know, because it is all new—someone sitting in ACAS would be free to say to the parties, or one of the parties because they are not always seen at the same time, ““Would you be prepared to seek mediation on this?””. Surely that would be a perfectly proper thing to say and do. If they are prepared to do so, no doubt that would be implemented. [The Sitting was suspended for a Division in the House from 4.26 to 4.36 pm.]