The purpose of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill is to promote investment in infrastructure projects, reduce delays in the planning system and introduce a new employment status of employee shareholder. This Library Note provides background information for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords on 8 January 2013.

The purpose of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill is to promote investment in infrastructure projects, reduce delays in the planning system and introduce a new employment status of employee shareholder. This Library Note provides background information for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords on 8...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what process he plans to use to satisfy himself that the requirements of paragraphs 4.9.1 and 4.9.3 of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy are met during the examination of the grid connection element of the Brechfa Forest...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what process he plans to use to satisfy himself that the requirements of paragraphs 4.9.1 and 4.9.3 of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy are met during the examination of the grid connection element of the Brechfa Forest...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

We need to pass this Energy Bill if Britain is to have a credible and ambitious energy and climate change policy. The Bill represents both a practical and a radical approach to reforming our electricity market. It is...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

We need to pass this Energy Bill if Britain is to have a credible and ambitious energy and climate change policy. The Bill represents both a practical and a radical approach to reforming our electricity market. It is...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the first major infrastructure projects in receipt of the major infrastructure guarantee to be completed.

[133603]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the first major infrastructure projects in receipt of the major infrastructure guarantee to be completed.

[133603]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to modernise transport infrastructure on Ascension Island.

[134001]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to modernise transport infrastructure on Ascension Island.

[134001]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to develop the infrastructure of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

[134003]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to develop the infrastructure of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

[134003]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what circumstances planning permission can be refused on the grounds of lack of infrastructure.

[133757]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what circumstances planning permission can be refused on the grounds of lack of infrastructure.

[133757]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his Ministerial colleagues on the potential effect of communications infrastructure on National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

[133237]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his Ministerial colleagues on the potential effect of communications infrastructure on National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

[133237]

Will my hon. Friend confirm that none of the interesting employee ownership and co-operative models that exist throughout the world depend on individual employees giving up their statutory rights to redundancy, maternity pay or access to an employment tribunal?

Will my hon. Friend confirm that none of the interesting employee ownership and co-operative models that exist throughout the world depend on individual employees giving up their statutory rights to redundancy, maternity pay or access to an employment tribunal?

Quite the reverse, and as employee ownership has developed in this country, all the arguments have been about the enhancement rather than the withdrawal of rights. However, that can succeed only on the basis of an open, transparent commitment to a partnership in the company concerned. The purpose of the...

Quite the reverse, and as employee ownership has developed in this country, all the arguments have been about the enhancement rather than the withdrawal of rights. However, that can succeed only on the basis of an open, transparent commitment to a partnership in the company concerned. The purpose of the...

That is an important point. Furthermore, not only did the consultation response come in on the morning we were debating these measures in Committee, but the Government completely ignored it, because the only amendment they committed to introduce was to change the name from employee owners to employee shareholders.

That is an important point. Furthermore, not only did the consultation response come in on the morning we were debating these measures in Committee, but the Government completely ignored it, because the only amendment they committed to introduce was to change the name from employee owners to employee shareholders.

The fact that there was just one cosmetic change shows that the consultation was ignored.

In support of my amendments, it is worth putting on record exactly what the consultation proposed. It found that the majority view was that no one should be asked to exchange their employment rights for shares....

The fact that there was just one cosmetic change shows that the consultation was ignored.

In support of my amendments, it is worth putting on record exactly what the consultation proposed. It found that the majority view was that no one should be asked to exchange their employment rights for shares....

My hon. Friend mentions the astonishing fact that the OBR says this reform will cost money at a time when, as the Government keep telling us, money is so very tight. Is my hon. Friend surprised that this bonkers reform will cost money? The reform is based on the work...

My hon. Friend mentions the astonishing fact that the OBR says this reform will cost money at a time when, as the Government keep telling us, money is so very tight. Is my hon. Friend surprised that this bonkers reform will cost money? The reform is based on the work...

I am trying to find a Dickensian analogy; perhaps it should be great expectations met by hard times.

I was interested in the TUC response which was supplied to Members. It addressed the potential for this reform to be used for tax-avoidance purposes, through people switching their share schemes and entering...

I am trying to find a Dickensian analogy; perhaps it should be great expectations met by hard times.

I was interested in the TUC response which was supplied to Members. It addressed the potential for this reform to be used for tax-avoidance purposes, through people switching their share schemes and entering...

My first question is: where are all the Members who are supposed to be supporting this Bill?

I believe in freedom of choice. If an individual wishes to work for a company on a contract such as that which is proposed, they should be able to do so. That will not...

My first question is: where are all the Members who are supposed to be supporting this Bill?

I believe in freedom of choice. If an individual wishes to work for a company on a contract such as that which is proposed, they should be able to do so. That will not...

The hon. Gentleman’s central argument is that the proposed scheme is voluntary, but my problem, in addition to all the comments made by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray), is that the Government

have singularly failed to give any guarantee that a prospective employee in receipt...

The hon. Gentleman’s central argument is that the proposed scheme is voluntary, but my problem, in addition to all the comments made by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray), is that the Government

have singularly failed to give any guarantee that a prospective employee in receipt...

I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his observation. My name is on the amendments tabled by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell) and I am waiting for the Minister to answer the questions they raise. I am sure he will give us some...

I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his observation. My name is on the amendments tabled by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell) and I am waiting for the Minister to answer the questions they raise. I am sure he will give us some...

The hon. Gentleman does not appear to be aware that even if someone refuses to go for an interview for a job because they have read the details and seen that they would have to give up their rights, they could be sanctioned—that is, they could lose benefit—because of that.

The hon. Gentleman does not appear to be aware that even if someone refuses to go for an interview for a job because they have read the details and seen that they would have to give up their rights, they could be sanctioned—that is, they could lose benefit—because of that.

The hon. Lady will be anxious to hear the Minister’s answer to that question, which our amendments put to him. We have tabled the amendments to tease the answers out of him—if she had proposed an amendment, she would have received an answer to her question, but she has obviously...

The hon. Lady will be anxious to hear the Minister’s answer to that question, which our amendments put to him. We have tabled the amendments to tease the answers out of him—if she had proposed an amendment, she would have received an answer to her question, but she has obviously...