Employment Rights Legislation

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Wednesday 1st February 2023 Lords Chamber

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, before I call the fourth Oral Question, I remind noble Lords of the sub judice ruling, which currently covers the case of David Carrick. Noble Lords should therefore avoid discussion of any issue related to sentencing in that case.

Trades Union Congress: Levelling Up

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Wednesday 29th June 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I am sorry to tell the noble Lord that I just do not share this outdated methodology that, on the one hand, you have workers and, on the other, you have bosses. We are all working together for the good of the country. The thing about the trade unions in this country is that they are now a minority profession: only 13% of workers in the private sector and only half of those in the public sector are in trade unions. The reality is that they do not represent anybody.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Jones of Cheltenham, will make a virtual contribution.

[Lord Jones of Cheltenham (LD) [V]]

[Inaudible]—responsibility for good industrial relations, which are of course vital for a successful economy. On the subject of levelling up, would the Minister have a word with the boss of Sainsbury’s, whose annual salary has trebled to £3.9 million while he denies a living wage to many of his hard-working employees?

Fire and Rehire

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Wednesday 15th June 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

We want to see all companies engaging in responsible employment practice. The UK has an employment record to be proud of. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the western world, one of our lowest post-war records—down again yesterday. If you contrast that to many countries in the EU or on the continent, with much less flexible labour markets, the best employment right of all is a job.

[The Lord Speaker]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Jones of Cheltenham, is making a virtual contribution.

[Lord Jones of Cheltenham (LD) [V]]

My Lords, I draw attention to my registered interests. Sometimes employment contracts need updating to reflect new legislation. Under current law, if agreement cannot be reached between employer and employee, notice can be given and new contracts offered. Then employees can opt for a tribunal claiming unfair dismissal, but tribunals are taking up to 18 months to determine. What are the Government doing to speed up tribunals?

Trade Talks with India, Greenland and Israel

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Wednesday 9th March 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, the Government have put in place a suite of enhanced scrutiny arrangements that go well beyond our statutory obligations, so we have no need to refer back to EU law in that instance.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

I call the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, to speak virtually.

[Baroness Brinton (LD) [V]]

My Lords, the Government have inserted in the Health and Care Bill, which is currently going through your Lordships’ House, a clause on reciprocal healthcare agreements beyond the existing arrangements with the EU, EEA and Switzerland, because we know they work well. Will reciprocal healthcare agreements form part of the trade talks with India, Greenland and Israel?

EU: Imports

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Tuesday 1st February 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to facilitate imports from the European Union.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, on the second Oral Question, the noble Lord, Lord Howarth of Newport, will be contributing virtually.

Oil and Gas Authority: Remit

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Thursday 2nd December 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

The noble Baroness answers her own question—indeed, I would say, “Let’s wait for the decision of OPRED before we make any final observations about this.” But, as I mentioned to her colleague earlier, at the same time we are proceeding with our ground-breaking North Sea Transition Deal to ensure exactly what she asks: to help workers to transition away from these industries in the future.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed.

Climate Change: Trade Policy

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Thursday 28th October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, environmental policies are at the forefront of our minds when we negotiate free trade agreements and in the areas to which the noble Lord refers. But, of course, these agreements are negotiated. We push very hard for the inclusion of all the lines we want but sometimes, necessarily, there has to be a bit of give and take in these agreements.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

Lady Bryan of Partick? Not present? I call the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh of Pickering.

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

My Lords, I am sure my noble friend will agree that many of these agreements are asymmetrical in nature—we are giving and other countries are taking. Could we look at the environmental and animal welfare chapters of the recent agreements in principle for trade deals with Australia and New Zealand? In particular, will my noble friend yet again confirm that we will not accept any agricultural or other products into this country which do not meet our high standards of animal welfare and environmental protection? Will he also tell us when flesh will be put on the bones of the environmental and animal welfare chapters of these two agreements?

Private Equity Takeovers

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Thursday 21st October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, I have never noticed any lack of interest from the Treasury in extending the tax base whenever it possibly can, but the current tax rules reflect the hybrid nature of this reward. If investment managers realise their carried interest gain within three years, that gain is treated as income and taxed accordingly. This approach is also followed by other comparable jurisdictions.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

Lord Dubs? Not present? I call the noble Lord, Lord Holmes of Richmond.

[Lord Holmes of Richmond (Con)]

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that inward investment and an economy open for global business are good, but where a UK target company has been built largely and perhaps sometimes exclusively on taxpayer-funded government contracts, should we not reconsider the current regime?

Trade Policy: Environmental Considerations

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Thursday 21st October 2021 Lords Chamber

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

Lord Curry of Kirkharle? Not present? I call the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb.

[Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP)]

The Minister seems to be ignoring the fact that Australia has much lower food standards—incredibly low. It uses paraquat, which has been banned for years here in Britain, and antibiotics, which are also banned. Of course, we now have a trade deal with New Zealand—are we going to fly those kiwi fruits in? Australia also has incredibly low animal welfare standards. The Minister is ditching our better food for the sake of some boastful statement he can make here in the House.

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

The noble Baroness’s question veers toward the unfair. What do I see when I read the Australia free trade agreement? I see a comprehensive environment chapter with Australia that protects our rights to regulate to meet net zero, sets our shared commitment to building mutually supportive trade and environment policies, and establishes co-operative efforts to support our green economy through trade in a range of areas. That seems to fit the bill.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed.

Cotton Imports

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Thursday 21st October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

The noble Baroness makes a good point. Last year we debated the very important question of ensuring that our modern slavery laws and guidance are as effective as possible. We continue to work on that and will be introducing financial penalties. We are absolutely embarked on a road which will make possible the eradication of this egregious crime of modern slavery.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked. We now move to the next Question.