I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/660) [30th Report from the Merits Committee].—(Baroness Byford.) On Question, Motion agreed to.

I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/660) [30th Report from the Merits Committee].—(Baroness Byford.) On Question, Motion agreed to.

Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) Rules (SI 2006/660). Lords motion to Consider. Agreed to on question (formal). Grand Committee off the floor of the House (Moses room). (Debated with SI 2006/658).

Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) Rules (SI 2006/660). Lords motion to Consider. Agreed to on question (formal). Grand Committee off the floor of the House (Moses room). (Debated with SI 2006/658).

May I have some clarification on what the Minister has said in the past couple of minutes? Does it apply to EU citizens alone, or to citizens outside the EU as well?

May I have some clarification on what the Minister has said in the past couple of minutes? Does it apply to EU citizens alone, or to citizens outside the EU as well?

That is not allowed in this place.

That is not allowed in this place.

I strongly welcome the Minister here today. We have worked together across the Table many times. It is strange to think of Denis Howell; I am sure he would have enjoyed the cup final in Cardiff last Saturday. It was a sunny day, and I must tell the Minister, a Birmingham man, that...

I strongly welcome the Minister here today. We have worked together across the Table many times. It is strange to think of Denis Howell; I am sure he would have enjoyed the cup final in Cardiff last Saturday. It was a sunny day, and I must tell the Minister, a Birmingham man, that...

I agree with my noble friend Lady Byford and the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, that these regulations are desperately needed and will greatly improve the law. Members of the Grand Committee will know that I have been involved in horticulture all my working life. I started self-employment in horticulture as a sole trader. Many of...

I agree with my noble friend Lady Byford and the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, that these regulations are desperately needed and will greatly improve the law. Members of the Grand Committee will know that I have been involved in horticulture all my working life. I started self-employment in horticulture as a sole trader. Many of...

The seasonal workers scheme was operating, so in that sense the Home Office set rules on numbers, and I dealt with that when I was there. But there were no conditions or benefits of employment for those people at that time. This legislation is new for the industry.

The seasonal workers scheme was operating, so in that sense the Home Office set rules on numbers, and I dealt with that when I was there. But there were no conditions or benefits of employment for those people at that time. This legislation is new for the industry.

It is for one worker per day, but if clarification is needed I shall write to the noble Baroness.

It is for one worker per day, but if clarification is needed I shall write to the noble Baroness.

I will do my best to answer the last question, which is wholly reasonable. I am grateful for the contributions of noble Lords. One of them took me back more than 40 years. I was a young tool-making apprentice in Birmingham in 1960 when I saw an advert in the paper: ““Holiday with a difference: fruit picking in...

I will do my best to answer the last question, which is wholly reasonable. I am grateful for the contributions of noble Lords. One of them took me back more than 40 years. I was a young tool-making apprentice in Birmingham in 1960 when I saw an advert in the paper: ““Holiday with a difference: fruit picking in...

The Minister is telling me something that I did not know because I thought he was English-based; there we are. It is a very good organisation. It has been going through fairly difficult times regarding the future of the scheme, as has the National Farmers’ Union with its similar scheme. I had assumed...

The Minister is telling me something that I did not know because I thought he was English-based; there we are. It is a very good organisation. It has been going through fairly difficult times regarding the future of the scheme, as has the National Farmers’ Union with its similar scheme. I had assumed...

Actually there is another one: me.

Actually there is another one: me.

I am grateful for that clarification. However, I ask the Minister to speed it up as much as possible because we need this regulation. I welcome it and I know that the industry welcomes it. We want to see good gangmasters who operate fair systems, and we want to make sure that rogue gangmasters...

I am grateful for that clarification. However, I ask the Minister to speed it up as much as possible because we need this regulation. I welcome it and I know that the industry welcomes it. We want to see good gangmasters who operate fair systems, and we want to make sure that rogue gangmasters...

I am very grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate. My noble friend Lord Skelmersdale will be very pleased that he does not find himself in difficulty. I am grateful, too, to the Minister for his response. I am still quite perplexed that the legislation has taken as long...

I am very grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate. My noble friend Lord Skelmersdale will be very pleased that he does not find himself in difficulty. I am grateful, too, to the Minister for his response. I am still quite perplexed that the legislation has taken as long...

It applies to everybody; no distinction is made, otherwise there would be a loophole for massive exploitation. Obviously, gangmasters must be licensed anyway, so we hope that there will only be good gangmasters and that they will not exploit people. But the regulations must cover everybody; you cannot send people...

It applies to everybody; no distinction is made, otherwise there would be a loophole for massive exploitation. Obviously, gangmasters must be licensed anyway, so we hope that there will only be good gangmasters and that they will not exploit people. But the regulations must cover everybody; you cannot send people...

I would be grateful.

I would be grateful.

Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations (SI 2006/658). Lords debate on motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee off the floor of the House (Moses room). (Debated with SI 2006/662, SI 2006/660)

Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations (SI 2006/658). Lords debate on motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee off the floor of the House (Moses room). (Debated with SI 2006/662, SI 2006/660)

I am grateful for that response, but does that mean that that is the only occasion—that it is a first and a one-off? I know that employers can take on other workers on subsequent days, but do they have to do it every day for the same worker?

I am grateful for that response, but does that mean that that is the only occasion—that it is a first and a one-off? I know that employers can take on other workers on subsequent days, but do they have to do it every day for the same worker?

No, I am not striking on this. The Committee will agree, however, that flexibility should not be provided at the expense of the workers. That is the point. Licensing will oblige gangmasters to operate their business in an ethical and legal manner. It will also create a clear distinction between legal...

No, I am not striking on this. The Committee will agree, however, that flexibility should not be provided at the expense of the workers. That is the point. Licensing will oblige gangmasters to operate their business in an ethical and legal manner. It will also create a clear distinction between legal...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/658) [30th Report from the Merits Committee]. The noble Baroness said: I shall speak also to the Gangmasters (Appeals) Regulations 2006 and the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) Rules 2006 because most of my points are...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/658) [30th Report from the Merits Committee]. The noble Baroness said: I shall speak also to the Gangmasters (Appeals) Regulations 2006 and the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) Rules 2006 because most of my points are...