BALPA, the union of which I am president, does all those things without a political fund.

BALPA, the union of which I am president, does all those things without a political fund.

Political campaigning, which the noble Lord will know is clearly spelled out already in the legislation, requires some of these issues to be paid for out of the political fund, Indeed, my own union, UNISON, operates two separate political funds, as my noble friend Lord Prentis explained in Committee, one...

Political campaigning, which the noble Lord will know is clearly spelled out already in the legislation, requires some of these issues to be paid for out of the political fund, Indeed, my own union, UNISON, operates two separate political funds, as my noble friend Lord Prentis explained in Committee, one...

I am sure the noble Baroness is aware that positions that do not require financial remuneration do not need to be declared. I did, in fact, make that declaration at Second Reading and in Committee and no further declaration is required.

I am sure the noble Baroness is aware that positions that do not require financial remuneration do not need to be declared. I did, in fact, make that declaration at Second Reading and in Committee and no further declaration is required.

I think that is the point I was making; I was just reminding the noble Lord. He could have reminded us on this occasion, given that a number of his points were very much party-political ones.

Clauses 77 and 78 of the Bill, which these amendments would omit, remove burdensome requirements...

I think that is the point I was making; I was just reminding the noble Lord. He could have reminded us on this occasion, given that a number of his points were very much party-political ones.

Clauses 77 and 78 of the Bill, which these amendments would omit, remove burdensome requirements...

Can the Minister be quite clear with us in that case? She said that unions will be required to report to the certification officer gross amounts of income and expenses. Can she be crystal clear that there will be no requirement to disclose expenses made within the political fund to...

Can the Minister be quite clear with us in that case? She said that unions will be required to report to the certification officer gross amounts of income and expenses. Can she be crystal clear that there will be no requirement to disclose expenses made within the political fund to...

My understanding is that the political funds will be required to continue to spell out how they are spending the money, but not for sums under £2,000. The certification officer will continue to be able to enforce remaining annual return requirements—

My understanding is that the political funds will be required to continue to spell out how they are spending the money, but not for sums under £2,000. The certification officer will continue to be able to enforce remaining annual return requirements—

I am sure the Minister would not like to have on record something that does not seem to be correct. I think she means that amounts under £2,000 need not be disclosed.

I am sure the Minister would not like to have on record something that does not seem to be correct. I think she means that amounts under £2,000 need not be disclosed.

That is what I said.

We are simply returning to the situation as it was pre-2016. I would add that the unions are already specifically regulated in the requirement to have a separate fund for spending on political purposes that is subject to many rules. There is no such requirement on...

That is what I said.

We are simply returning to the situation as it was pre-2016. I would add that the unions are already specifically regulated in the requirement to have a separate fund for spending on political purposes that is subject to many rules. There is no such requirement on...

My Lords, I am grateful to all who have contributed to the debate, particularly the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, and the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe of Epsom, who added their names to the amendment. I am also very grateful for the meetings I have had with the Minister. However, I...

My Lords, I am grateful to all who have contributed to the debate, particularly the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, and the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe of Epsom, who added their names to the amendment. I am also very grateful for the meetings I have had with the Minister. However, I...

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

148: Clause 65, page 96, line 23, leave out subsection (2)

Member's explanatory statement

This probing amendment would reinstate the 50% threshold requirement for industrial action to be voted on by a trade union and seeks to probe whether the Government perceives a risk to the democratic integrity...

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

148: Clause 65, page 96, line 23, leave out subsection (2)

Member's explanatory statement

This probing amendment would reinstate the 50% threshold requirement for industrial action to be voted on by a trade union and seeks to probe whether the Government perceives a risk to the democratic integrity...

My Lords, time and again we hear about workplace democracy from the Government Benches, and then they introduce this. So yes, I would like to test the opinion of the House.

My Lords, time and again we hear about workplace democracy from the Government Benches, and then they introduce this. So yes, I would like to test the opinion of the House.

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

149A: Leave out Clause 72

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

149A: Leave out Clause 72

I would like to test the opinion of the House.

I would like to test the opinion of the House.

Moved by

Lord Hendy

150: After Clause 72, insert the following new Clause—

“Right to take industrial action

(1) The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 220 (peaceful picketing)—

(a) in subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “a place of work”;

(b) omit subsections (2) to...

Moved by

Lord Hendy

150: After Clause 72, insert the following new Clause—

“Right to take industrial action

(1) The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 220 (peaceful picketing)—

(a) in subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “a place of work”;

(b) omit subsections (2) to...

My Lords, this amendment is a reproduction of the amendment on secondary action that I moved in Committee. Of course, your Lordships are far too polite to give expression to the collective groan that would otherwise emanate from all sides of the House.

I move the amendment again for two reasons—first,...

My Lords, this amendment is a reproduction of the amendment on secondary action that I moved in Committee. Of course, your Lordships are far too polite to give expression to the collective groan that would otherwise emanate from all sides of the House.

I move the amendment again for two reasons—first,...

My Lords, I oppose the amendment in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Hendy. In doing so, I accept that he is very sincere in the arguments that he makes. I would not necessarily wish to dispute his interpretation of ILO regulations or policies, but we are nevertheless being...

My Lords, I oppose the amendment in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Hendy. In doing so, I accept that he is very sincere in the arguments that he makes. I would not necessarily wish to dispute his interpretation of ILO regulations or policies, but we are nevertheless being...

My Lords, I shall speak briefly to Amendment 150 in the name of my noble friend Lord Hendy, because I think that it is worth taking just a moment to consider the

impact of the reduction in union bargaining power that we have seen on ordinary working people in this...

My Lords, I shall speak briefly to Amendment 150 in the name of my noble friend Lord Hendy, because I think that it is worth taking just a moment to consider the

impact of the reduction in union bargaining power that we have seen on ordinary working people in this...

My Lords, I will be very brief. Amendment 154 would remove another huge chunk from the legislation and, for the arguments that I rehearsed in the previous group, we will not support any move to force a vote on this occasion.

7.15 pm

My Lords, I will be very brief. Amendment 154 would remove another huge chunk from the legislation and, for the arguments that I rehearsed in the previous group, we will not support any move to force a vote on this occasion.

7.15 pm

My Lords, I listened carefully to the noble Lord, Lord Hendy, and the noble Baroness, Lady O’Grady of Upper Holloway,

but I think that the argument fell rightly to my noble friend Lord Jackson of Peterborough, because he explained why we could not possibly accept this amendment. Therefore, I rise...

My Lords, I listened carefully to the noble Lord, Lord Hendy, and the noble Baroness, Lady O’Grady of Upper Holloway,

but I think that the argument fell rightly to my noble friend Lord Jackson of Peterborough, because he explained why we could not possibly accept this amendment. Therefore, I rise...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jackson of Peterborough, and my noble friend Lady O’Grady of Upper Holloway, for contributing to this debate, and to the noble Lord, Lord Goddard, for setting out the Lib Dems’ position. I will now speak to Amendment 150, tabled by...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jackson of Peterborough, and my noble friend Lady O’Grady of Upper Holloway, for contributing to this debate, and to the noble Lord, Lord Goddard, for setting out the Lib Dems’ position. I will now speak to Amendment 150, tabled by...