Brexit: Employment Protection for Women

Lord Cormack Excerpts

Thursday 8th March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Henley]

My Lords, obviously we will take note of all EU directives and look at them, but again would not the noble Baroness far prefer it that this Government and this Parliament decided these matters for themselves?

[Lord Cormack (Con)]

Will my noble friend agree that the very last thing we should refer to Henry VIII clauses is women’s rights?

[Lord Henley]

My noble friend makes a very good point about women’s rights: two of his wives lost their heads. I will think about that.

Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices

Lord Cormack Excerpts

Tuesday 11th July 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Cormack (Con)]

My Lords, the remarks of the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter, about Uber were extremely important. They illustrate that quality, reliability and excellence of products and services are essential. Does my noble friend accept that there is a real threat to the quality, reliability and excellence of taxi services in London, which, in black cabs, enjoys the finest service in the world? Whatever is done as a result of this report, it should try to ensure that there is proper equality of treatment between those who provide a service as well.

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My Lords, I concur entirely with part of what my noble friend said: that black cabs in London provide a remarkable service. However, Uber provides a remarkable service in many respects. As the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter, said, it is now an extremely valuable and important service. I do not think that there is any contradiction in having a successful Uber service, or one similar to it, running alongside the excellent black cab service in London.

Industrial Strategy Consultation

Lord Cormack Excerpts

Monday 23rd January 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I cannot answer that directly now, but if I can, I will consider it and write to the noble Lord. However, the total commitments for rail infrastructure investment—I cannot tell him exactly which part of the country relates to—is £88 billion, for example, so we are looking at a massive infrastructure investment in rail. I hope that I do not have the decimal point wrong on that figure but, if I have, I will write to him. We are looking at a massive investment in physical and digital infrastructure. The critical thing is that we use that purchasing power to direct it towards great British companies which are investing in quality and in their workforce.

[Lord Cormack (Con)]

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that any industrial strategy that is to be successful must not neglect the rural economy—farming, horticulture, and the service industries? Would it therefore not be deeply unfortunate if, during the next six months, as we develop our strategy, we inadvertently undermine many of our rural industries by the swingeing increase in business rates that threatens them? Will my noble friend please bear that carefully in mind?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

We will certainly bear that in mind. Clearly, the rates of tax, whether that is corporation tax, business rates or any other costs to business, are critically important. I take on board his comments about the importance of the rural economy.