Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill

The Minister has started with a red herring about keeping people safe. Can he explain, then, why ...

Clearly, there is a wider context for children. It is about services and safety—those are both co...

rose—

If I may, I will respond to the question from the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Br...

I am happy to give way to the hon. Member for Coventry South.

I thank the Minister for giving way. This anti-worker, anti-strike Bill applies to the fire and r...

Negotiations need to go on. This does not stop—

On a point of order, Mr Evans, is it acceptable for Members to speak on an issue and not declare ...

It is up to each individual Member to reflect on whether they wish to declare an interest, but at...

Further to that point of order, Mr Evans, to be helpful to the House, given that a number of Memb...

Yes.

Further to that point of order, Mr Evans, is it also in order for hon. Members who have received ...

That is exactly the same point. Let us just move on please. We have got a lot to deal with today,...

In answer to the point from the hon. Member for Coventry South (Zarah Sultana), negotiations need...

Will the Minister accept that health and safety legislation in this country—to ensure guards on m...

I do not accept the hon. Gentleman’s point. On nurses, we already have voluntary agreements, yet ...

I will give way to the hon. Gentleman.

In relation to safety—others have mentioned this—the nurses that I have spoken to and been on the...

The hon. Member makes an important point. We are happy with the agreement we have with the Royal ...

I will make some progress.

We clearly want to resolve these disputes, but we must do it in ...

I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, because...

Under this legislation, workers can be sacked for taking strike action that has been agreed in a ...

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that Labour stands against this sacking nurses Bill—the Mi...

Does the right hon. Lady think it is right that the police are restricted from taking strike acti...

The hon. Member should know, because of what has happened recently, that members and those who de...

Does my right hon. Friend understand that the Government are authorising employers to do what not...

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. These are the fundamental freedoms that underpin our demo...

The only minimum service level that I and my constituents would like to see is one for the Prime ...

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and here is the rub. I think it is the reason for the lat...

My right hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. The Minister should go on a field trip to rea...

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Her point links to what I was trying to express earlier: ...

If we walk through this legislation and its eventual implementation, we see that it will result i...

I absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend. That is exactly what this Government are walking in...

Does my right hon. Friend agree that this legislation is a diversion from this Government’s incom...

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. We cannot be divorced from the fact that members of the p...

My right hon. Friend is making a really powerful speech. I remind Members that this afternoon the...

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I think we all have an interest in ensuring that we...

Nonsense.

I gave the Minister the opportunity to back our amendment. I give him the opportunity to interven...

indicated dissent .

No. Thought not. The “sacking key workers” clause will give the Secretary of State the power to t...

My right hon. Friend is being extremely generous in giving way. Does she accept that the only way...

Interventions, by their nature, should be short, not lengthy.

The Bill is an attack on our basic British freedoms, and Conservative Members should be concerned...

Order. I remind Members that if they were here for the openings of both speeches, then yes they c...

It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner). I am a su...

I think the Conservative party has been contemplating this since the Combination Acts of the 18th...

I am slightly more ambitious than the right hon. Gentleman, because I think that, in and of itsel...

It is a pleasure to see the right hon. Gentleman back on the Back Benches as part of the awkward ...

I do not think there is any great need to “ram it through”, as the hon. Gentleman phrases it. The...

The right hon. Gentleman is making a powerful argument, which I think behoves us to ask the quest...

I do not want to be disagreeable, but I do not take that view. I think the Bill has been brought ...

I have listened carefully to the right hon. Member’s erudite exposition of the constitutional mat...

I agree with what the Bill is intended to do. I think that minimum levels of service are perfectl...

My right hon. Friend is right, in response to the comment from the right hon. Member for Hayes an...

The Bill is, as I said, a particularly extreme example of bad practice with the least possible ex...

I understand and completely follow the logic of the right hon. Gentleman’s argument. I agree with...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, but I think that he attributes to me more influence th...

It is quite impressive that, despite the right hon. Member having been on his feet for 16 minutes...

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is completely wrong about that. In all the legislation that I...

rose —

I must give up soon, but first I give way to my right hon. Friend.

I appreciate how my right hon. Friend is trying to give helpful pointers to Government Front Benc...

I think that the Bill should set out clearly what it is trying to achieve, so I will end with an ...

rose—

I should love to give way to the hon. Gentleman, but lots of people want to speak and I have gone...

It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg)—certainly...

My hon. Friend makes a valid point. The Minister keeps shaking his head whenever someone mentions...

I will return to that point, but it is quite clear that the Bill allows individuals to be named. ...

My hon. Friend mentions the devolution of employment law. As far as I am aware, the Smith commiss...

I think that was a rhetorical question. It was, unfortunately, Labour that led the charge against...

I missed what my hon. Friend said. Did he say which party blocked the devolution of employment la...

Just for the record, unfortunately it was the Labour party that blocked the concept of devolving ...

Just one more time, for the record, will my hon. Friend confirm which party prevented employment ...

Again, just for the record—I thought I was speaking quite loudly, but just in case Members did no...

Order. A great many Members are trying to get in. I cannot impose a time limit because we are in ...

Let me begin by making it clear that I do, of course, want everyone working in the emergency serv...

Does the hon. Gentleman not understand that if the police were to go on strike, the Prime Ministe...

Perhaps there would not be investigations into some of the historical misconduct in the SNP. We c...

Will the hon. Member give way?

No, I want to make progress.

Unions have a requirement to represent the specific interests ...

The truth emerging in this debate is that if we were to bring ourselves into line with Europe, th...

The hon. Gentleman anticipates my remarks. Whenever we say that, Opposition Members want to bring...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, I have given way a couple of times and I want to make progress. [ Interruption. ]

Order. The hon Gentleman says that he will not give way.

As I said, Opposition Members need to make up their minds. On the one hand, they want to constant...

What does the hon. Gentleman say to the fact that France and Italy have legislation in place for ...

As I said, we will not have identical legislation to countries in Europe, but there are countries...

I understand the thrust of my hon. Friend’s argument, and I agree with a lot of it. But does he a...

The Government are committed to extensive consultation to set the minimum service levels, and tha...

It is interesting to follow the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Dr Mullan). As a proud trade ...

I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and I fully support all that he has said in his speech. Wou...

My right hon. Friend is right. People’s response has not been to lie down and accept the Governme...

I tried to intervene on the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Dr Mullan), who I believe was a G...

My hon. Friend makes a good point. This is about targeting people. People will be selected for tr...

The practical reality is that for some workers this takes away the whole right to strike. An exam...

My right hon. Friend has hit the nail on the head. There are workers who are going to be denied t...

Just a little reminder that I said under 10 minutes would be helpful, otherwise not everyone will...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald). I will pick up wher...

The hon. Lady is making a very interesting contribution. She and the Government are making out th...

An experienced employment lawyer like the hon. Member for Middlesbrough will know the true mechan...

What the hon. Lady is saying is very interesting, but does she accept that, as we are in Europe, ...

Order. The hon. and learned Lady will be trying to catch my eye later, and I do not want interven...

I was interrupted.

I know, and I was going to say that it is important that interventions are not interrupted. Has t...

Can the hon. Member for Newbury point to any country in Europe in which, as a result of Governmen...

The hon. and learned Lady is right that negotiation is required. I was shocked to find that, in F...

I will help the hon. Lady. Is she aware that the ILO is saying that unions should participate in ...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and it is a good point. Even though the ILO has set out, in blac...

Will the hon. Lady give way?

I will make a bit of progress, because I am conscious of time.

Let me just deal briefly wit...

Let me say to the hon. Lady that she was not being annoying; I thought she made a thoughtful spee...

I rise to speak against this Bill and in support of amendment 2, which stands in my name and that...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) and to have lis...

Does my hon. Friend think that it would be helpful if there were a requirement for a minimum noti...

My hon. Friend makes a critical point. Not only should there be decent notice, but schools should...

I have been listening to Members from both sides of the House since the start of the debate, but ...

My hon. Friend is making the critical point that we represent all of our constituents—not just th...

rose—

I will not be troubling the Committee for much longer, so I will carry on and get through my spee...

In 2010 we had a Tory-Lib Dem coalition; that is when I became political and I now sit on these B...

I do not agree with the hon. Lady. There have been some pay rises over that period. The hon. Lady...

I wish to finish my speech.

The Bill will ensure that when people call 999, they can get an...

I speak for millions of trade unionists, public sector workers, key workers and people up and dow...

The hon. Member is giving a powerful speech. What we are seeing in Wales is co-operation and co-w...

I agree with the right hon. Member.

A joint statement by Wales TUC and the Welsh Government...

Let me first refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I notice that not...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. In the recent ambulance and paramedic strikes, it was clea...

The Government should listen to that point, which the hon. Gentleman has made for me. If there ha...

This life and limb point is very important. We must balance people’s right to strike against the ...

I will take that argument on, because I am coming on to amendment 39. Listening to our Conservati...

I hear the Minister chuntering from a sedentary position about the Bill not covering buses, but t...

The hon. Gentleman makes an excellent point. That is the problem, is it not? The Bill says “trans...

Just a tiny point of information: when I am sitting at the Table, I am not Madam Deputy Speaker; ...

Thank you, Dame Rosie. I rise to support many of the amendments. Not only is this Bill bad law, b...

I begin by declaring an interest as a proud and long-standing member of Unite the union.

I ...

I rise to speak to amendments 115, 116 and 117, which stand in my name. The Joint Committee on Hu...

I rise to speak to amendments 78, 95 and 96 in my name, which focus on the instruction of people ...

Steady!

I hear my right hon. Friend say, “Steady!”, but I want the Minister to confirm that, because that...

I declare an interest as a proud member of Unite the union and GMB. It is great to follow my hon....

Before I speak to my amendments, I want to address a couple of points. Government Members always ...

You’re wearing one.

My hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow South West (Chris Stephens) was wearing one when he was her...

I rise to speak in support of new clause 1, which I tabled and which I am delighted has been sign...

The hon. Gentleman refers to the need to notify. My understanding is that an individual worker is...

That is a very helpful intervention, because it illuminates the fact that I am afraid the hon. Me...

I rise to speak in support of the many amendments to which I have put my name, and indeed of any ...

I call Liz Saville Roberts.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dame Rosie. I refer hon. Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Fin...

I yield to no one in the Chamber in my respect for trade unions. I have had the privilege of chai...

The hon. Gentleman has raised an important point, but when we are looking at the culture of workp...

It is an honour to follow that speech from the right hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Savi...

It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South (Sam Tarry), who made a pas...

I rise to speak to amendments 21 to 24, which are in my name. In doing so, I am happy to support ...

Is my hon. Friend aware of anywhere else in Europe where an employee could be dismissed, with no ...

My hon. Friend is spot on with that question. That point has been made throughout the debate by m...

My hon. Friend is making a fantastic point about who is being victimised here. Instead of attacki...

My hon. Friend seeks to lead me into an area that could probably land me in a lot of hot water, i...

I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a pro...

When we legislate in Parliament, we do not legislate for the good; we legislate for the bad. We h...

My right hon. Friend is 100% right. The problem with blacklisting was that it was done very much ...

It is always a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Salford and Eccles (Rebecca Long ...

I rise to speak in support of the amendments that protect democracy, our devolved Parliaments, ou...

Many have commented on the almost ludicrous nature of how we are legislating today. We are about ...

My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point, to which I hope the Government are listening. The ...

I refer the Committee to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests; I am a proud m...

I speak as a proud trade unionist, a member of Unite the union and Unison, and as someone who app...

The hon. Lady is making a fabulous, passionate speech. I am a former teacher and have taken strik...

I could not agree more with the hon. Member. Government Members must remember that these nurses, ...

I thank hon. Members on both sides of the Committee for their contributions.

Consistent wit...

Will the Minister give way?

I will make a little progress and then bring the hon. Member in, although I might cover his point...

A lot of the remarks made this evening have focused on safety, but section 44 of the Employment R...

I think it is quite clear. I was interested in the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Newb...

rose —

I will give way one last time; then I want to make some progress.

I am sorry, Minister, but that really does not address the point I made. There is an inalienable ...

I am very happy to write to the hon. Gentleman to confirm that point, but we absolutely believe t...

Will the Minister give way?

I will make some progress, if I can. I may come back to the right hon. Gentleman in a moment.

It is irresponsible for a Minister to come to this House, when there is a clear conflict in the l...

That would be for a court to decide—[Hon. Members: “Oh!”] Of course it would be for a court to de...

I will make some progress, if I can—

Will the Minister give way ?

No, I will not.

On the other points, the impact assessment will be available shortly. It is...

Will the Minister give way?

No, I am making some progress.

The Bill does not target union members, as clearly stated in...

rose —

I give way one last time.

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. The Welsh Government and the Scottish Government ha...

This legislation is subject to parliamentary scrutiny. This is the Parliament of the United Kingd...

Will the Minister give way?

No, I will move on.

As we have made clear, we hope not to use the powers in the Bill if ade...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

While I am sure that the House wou...

I thank all the Members who spoke so passionately for the Opposition Front-Bench amendments tonig...

As we have heard, the Government still have not listened, because they would not accept any amend...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. I am in favour of their lordships doing their...

The right hon. Gentleman did not say that when it came to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 201...

Briefly—I do not want to delay the House—I say to the Government that bringing forward this legis...