To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's rest and recuperation leave policy for civilians working in operational theatres.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's rest and recuperation leave policy for civilians working in operational theatres.

Any laws that undermine union members' democratic participation in and control of that union need to be reformed. That is what our amendments are all about. I agree with my right hon. Friend. There can be poor employers in the public and private sectors. The differences have now gone and...

Any laws that undermine union members' democratic participation in and control of that union need to be reformed. That is what our amendments are all about. I agree with my right hon. Friend. There can be poor employers in the public and private sectors. The differences have now gone and...

I hear exactly what my hon. Friend is saying and I totally support him. Does he agree that there is a marked difference between the private and public sectors? My experience of trade unions in the public sector is that employers would never dream of not realising the type of...

I hear exactly what my hon. Friend is saying and I totally support him. Does he agree that there is a marked difference between the private and public sectors? My experience of trade unions in the public sector is that employers would never dream of not realising the type of...

We would then be on a par with European law, because the right to strike is in place in most European constitutions. As my hon. Friend knows, the history of this goes back to Taff Vale in 1906, when we gained impunity against actions for tort when industrial action was...

We would then be on a par with European law, because the right to strike is in place in most European constitutions. As my hon. Friend knows, the history of this goes back to Taff Vale in 1906, when we gained impunity against actions for tort when industrial action was...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I think that the hon. Member for Huntingdon wants to make another speech—if he is able to catch your eye, Mr. Deputy Speaker—so perhaps when he does, he might want to clarify the Conservative party's position. It seems that he is arguing not only against clause 19, but the amendments...

I think that the hon. Member for Huntingdon wants to make another speech—if he is able to catch your eye, Mr. Deputy Speaker—so perhaps when he does, he might want to clarify the Conservative party's position. It seems that he is arguing not only against clause 19, but the amendments...

How interesting. In that case, I shall give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) first.

How interesting. In that case, I shall give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) first.

The Conservative party gave their support to the Climate Change Bill, in which it was spelt out that the direction of change would specifically include the setting of annual carbon budgets, and that at some stage they would have to be translated into sectoral and company targets, so will the...

The Conservative party gave their support to the Climate Change Bill, in which it was spelt out that the direction of change would specifically include the setting of annual carbon budgets, and that at some stage they would have to be translated into sectoral and company targets, so will the...

I had better not. I find it hard to decide whether the Conservatives just pick and choose their human rights. The hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart) appeared to compare the BNP's racist ideology with communism. There is no comparison between the threat to individuals' welfare, in the...

I had better not. I find it hard to decide whether the Conservatives just pick and choose their human rights. The hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart) appeared to compare the BNP's racist ideology with communism. There is no comparison between the threat to individuals' welfare, in the...

Is not the more fundamental problem that there is no definition of what a political party is? It does not have to be a political party at all; it could be a lobbying organisation.

Is not the more fundamental problem that there is no definition of what a political party is? It does not have to be a political party at all; it could be a lobbying organisation.

My right hon. Friend makes a strong point about discretion for tribunals in this situation and about why automatic reinstatement may not always be the wisest action. The essence of new clause 2 is to enlist the support of the employer to ensure that the trade union can fulfil its...

My right hon. Friend makes a strong point about discretion for tribunals in this situation and about why automatic reinstatement may not always be the wisest action. The essence of new clause 2 is to enlist the support of the employer to ensure that the trade union can fulfil its...

These debates are always enriched by union lawyers who have practised in this area, and I take all their points seriously. I am happy to maintain a dialogue with trade unions, as with anyone, about how the law operates, but I am not convinced that a duty on employers to...

These debates are always enriched by union lawyers who have practised in this area, and I take all their points seriously. I am happy to maintain a dialogue with trade unions, as with anyone, about how the law operates, but I am not convinced that a duty on employers to...

I thought that it was a Government acceptance—a message from the front. In practice, this situation sours industrial relations. It turns the industrial relations climate into one of hostility rather than one of negotiation.

I thought that it was a Government acceptance—a message from the front. In practice, this situation sours industrial relations. It turns the industrial relations climate into one of hostility rather than one of negotiation.

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's point, but I am trying to explain the difficulties that exist. I am not trying to argue that unions should not keep meticulous records—they will do their best. New clause 2 seeks to gain employers' co-operation in statute to enable that to happen.

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's point, but I am trying to explain the difficulties that exist. I am not trying to argue that unions should not keep meticulous records—they will do their best. New clause 2 seeks to gain employers' co-operation in statute to enable that to happen.

The Minister has made his case. I know that the Bill will be passed unamended tonight, because there is not the strength to do otherwise. Will he give us an absolute guarantee that he will keep the legislation under review? We share the same objectives. What is important is that...

The Minister has made his case. I know that the Bill will be passed unamended tonight, because there is not the strength to do otherwise. Will he give us an absolute guarantee that he will keep the legislation under review? We share the same objectives. What is important is that...

I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, but I do not believe the clause is unworkable. If he allows me to develop the point, I will talk about the safeguards that we have built in and the proposals to which we have listened in the debate on this matter....

I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, but I do not believe the clause is unworkable. If he allows me to develop the point, I will talk about the safeguards that we have built in and the proposals to which we have listened in the debate on this matter....

I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker. The hon. Gentleman is right, but there need to be additional safeguards beyond those that he has identified. I think that clause 19 captures them pragmatically, and in the best way possible. I am concerned about the position of the Conservatives. Either they accept the...

I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker. The hon. Gentleman is right, but there need to be additional safeguards beyond those that he has identified. I think that clause 19 captures them pragmatically, and in the best way possible. I am concerned about the position of the Conservatives. Either they accept the...

On that basis, I simply say that the provisions are not strong enough to deal with such abuse of workers in this country, and it needs to be tackled in future legislation.

On that basis, I simply say that the provisions are not strong enough to deal with such abuse of workers in this country, and it needs to be tackled in future legislation.

It is plus plus then.

It is plus plus then.

I do not want to put myself in the position of judges in such cases, but, if my hon. Friend will bear with me, I shall touch on one of those examples in a moment. The changes that we have made make it clear that trade unions are not expected...

I do not want to put myself in the position of judges in such cases, but, if my hon. Friend will bear with me, I shall touch on one of those examples in a moment. The changes that we have made make it clear that trade unions are not expected...