Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (10 votes to 3).

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (10 votes to 3).

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I start by sharing with the Committee why we are introducing the code for noble Lords’ consideration today. The plan to make work pay included a commitment to simplify the process for trade union recognition. The Employment Rights Act 2025 updated the legal framework for statutory trade union...

My Lords, I start by sharing with the Committee why we are introducing the code for noble Lords’ consideration today. The plan to make work pay included a commitment to simplify the process for trade union recognition. The Employment Rights Act 2025 updated the legal framework for statutory trade union...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for opening this important debate on the draft Code of Practice: Access and Unfair Practices During the Recognition and Derecognition Process. By way of background, as the Minister knows, the Government have committed to cutting the administrative burden on businesses by 25%...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for opening this important debate on the draft Code of Practice: Access and Unfair Practices During the Recognition and Derecognition Process. By way of background, as the Minister knows, the Government have committed to cutting the administrative burden on businesses by 25%...

My Lords, I will speak in praise of the guidance that has been produced by ACAS. I declare my interests as a former general secretary of a major teaching union and as a former president of the TUC. I read the guidance over the last few days. It is balanced,...

My Lords, I will speak in praise of the guidance that has been produced by ACAS. I declare my interests as a former general secretary of a major teaching union and as a former president of the TUC. I read the guidance over the last few days. It is balanced,...

Before I respond to the questions from the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, I need to make a correction. When I referred to the small business exemption to the statutory recognition process, I said 25 workers, but it should have been 21 workers.

I am grateful to my noble friend Lady Bousted...

Before I respond to the questions from the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, I need to make a correction. When I referred to the small business exemption to the statutory recognition process, I said 25 workers, but it should have been 21 workers.

I am grateful to my noble friend Lady Bousted...

My Lords, I am listening very carefully to what the Minister is saying, but he still has not explained the extent to which such a huge percentage—nearly 100% of those consulted—did not feel that the Government had listened carefully to their points on the code. He also has not explained...

My Lords, I am listening very carefully to what the Minister is saying, but he still has not explained the extent to which such a huge percentage—nearly 100% of those consulted—did not feel that the Government had listened carefully to their points on the code. He also has not explained...

I thank the noble Lord for that. I will try to address the whole thing about security and additional access. The code does not require the employer to give the union, including any union official who is not one of the employer’s workers, information that would be in breach of...

I thank the noble Lord for that. I will try to address the whole thing about security and additional access. The code does not require the employer to give the union, including any union official who is not one of the employer’s workers, information that would be in breach of...

I. Central Arbitration Committee Annual Report. 2025/26. Incl. appendices. 28p. II. Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations: Annual Report 2025-2. 50p. 6III. Letter dated July 2026 from Kate Dearden MP to Liam Byrne MP regarding 2 documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Central Arbitration Committee Annual Report. 2025/26. Incl. appendices. 28p. II. Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations: Annual Report 2025-2. 50p. 6III. Letter dated July 2026 from Kate Dearden MP to Liam Byrne MP regarding 2 documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to introduce consultation on the reduction of membership threshold from 10% for statutory union recognition ballots.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to introduce consultation on the reduction of membership threshold from 10% for statutory union recognition ballots.

The Government’s social value model provides opportunities to reward suppliers that recognise a trade union or other forms of worker representation. We are looking at further reforms to procurement to ensure that the rules do everything possible to boost jobs and skills and reward good work. I am working with trade unions, businesses and other organisations on this matter.

The Government’s social value model provides opportunities to reward suppliers that recognise a trade union or other forms of worker representation. We are looking at further reforms to procurement to ensure that the rules do everything possible to boost jobs and skills and reward good work. I am working with trade unions, businesses and other organisations on this matter.

I refer to my entry on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Bidfood, which has public contracts with the Army, prisons and schools across the UK, has torn up a long-standing recognition deal with GMB and Unite, leaving workers open to fire and rehire. Does the Minister agree that public contracts should go only to businesses that recognise and work constructively with trade unions?

I refer to my entry on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Bidfood, which has public contracts with the Army, prisons and schools across the UK, has torn up a long-standing recognition deal with GMB and Unite, leaving workers open to fire and rehire. Does the Minister agree that public contracts should go only to businesses that recognise and work constructively with trade unions?

I personally think all businesses should recognise and work with trade unions. Our social value model, which we are reforming and will shortly strengthen, allows contracting authorities to consider the economic and social impact and reputation of bidders. Of course, the Employment Rights Bill—the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation—will end the scandal of fire and rehire.

I personally think all businesses should recognise and work with trade unions. Our social value model, which we are reforming and will shortly strengthen, allows contracting authorities to consider the economic and social impact and reputation of bidders. Of course, the Employment Rights Bill—the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation—will end the scandal of fire and rehire.

On determining awards for public contracts, what steps are being taken to prioritise UK firms in public procurement, especially for the provision of vital equipment, like personal protective equipment, in our NHS?

On determining awards for public contracts, what steps are being taken to prioritise UK firms in public procurement, especially for the provision of vital equipment, like personal protective equipment, in our NHS?