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Private Equity (Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment) Bill

The hon. Lady has made a valid point, and it was something that I said earlier. I am not trying to blame the people who helped me to draft the Bill, but the difficulty is that it is hard to keep track of how these things are going down. My original intention and stated position was to try to ensure that people had TUPE and nothing more. As I said earlier, that other issue was identified in discussions that I have had. Hon. Members have my undertaking, given on the Floor of the House, that a provision leading to rights beyond those given by TUPE would certainly be removed in Committee. My intention will be to try to apply TUPE and nothing else—I want no extra rights for people and no burdens. It is no use to me or anyone else if unnecessary burdens are put on business. I recognise that there has to be a balance; I just think that it is tipped slightly the wrong way in respect of these particular takeovers.