I found this interchange very useful. The reason why I wanted Amendment 83 to stand outside the earlier group is that I thought that it might get lost otherwise. It has given us the opportunity to think about where the misunderstandings have arisen. I say to my noble and very good friend Lord Judd that I was beginning to wonder whether he was moving an amendment to his own Amendment 83.
I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Falkner, for being so frank in her concerns. One of them is absolutely misconceived, if I may say so, and that is the idea that we are somehow being "partisan"—that was her word—as though anything to do with trade unions implies the involvement of the Labour Party. My noble friend Lord Morris and I have about 100 years of trade union activity between us and we know that that is a total misunderstanding. For 90 if not 99 per cent of the time, it is not like that at all. You represent your members on day-to-day matters. In the context of the Bill, it is nothing to do with being partisan.
I would put the point the other way around. My concern—I have experience in these matters—is that when people talk about NGOs and this sort of thing, one minute they say, "Of course trade unions are included", but when they set up meetings, the unions are not there. My worry is about being excluded. I am very glad that we have had this discussion. I have had this discussion in many forums. When CPA and IPU delegations have gone to Nigeria, I say, "Are we meeting the Nigeria Labour Congress?". They say, "Why? What has that got to do with it?". I say, "We are meeting so-called NGOs: what is wrong with the Nigeria Labour Congress?". I hope that the noble Baroness, Lady Falkner, with her development experience, will recognise my point.
I thank the Minister for providing an indication of his intent to invite the TUC to be consulted about what is going on with the design group. That is absolutely proper, and everybody should welcome that.
Finally, the noble Baroness, Lady Falkner, raised the issue of people living in ghettos, such as single-faith ghettos.
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]
Proceeding contribution from
Lord Lea of Crondall
(Labour)
in the House of Lords on Monday, 2 March 2009.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL].
About this proceeding contribution
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2008-09Chamber / Committee
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