Leaving the EU: Workers’ Rights

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Tuesday 29th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

Yes, my hon. Friend is exactly right.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

The Tory party talks about protecting workers. Thomas Cook: no say and no pay. Asda: sign or resign. Royal Mail: agreements made but not honoured. Where is the intervention from the Tory Government? They will further weaken workers’ rights after Brexit, including on health and safety. Why is there no legal protection for existing workers’ rights in the withdrawal agreement?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman is not correct. There are protections for workers’ rights in UK legislation. As I have explained to many right hon. and hon. Members, the UK’s protections and rights for workers go far beyond any of the EU’s minimum standards. We are proud of that fact and have every intention of further enhancing those rights.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Thursday 25th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Lady is absolutely right that, in this country, nobody should go hungry. The Government have invested significant time, energy, effort and money into ensuring that universal credit replaces an old system where many people did not get the benefits they were entitled to because the system was so complicated. The new system of universal credit helps people into work and supports them to meet their own needs for as long a time as necessary while they find work for themselves and their families.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

This Sunday, 28 April, marks International Workers’ Memorial Day, supported by the trade unions. Many trade union councils up and down the country will be holding events. What are the Government doing to remember the dead and to fight for the living, and to remember the workers who have died at work?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman raises a really important point. It is vital that we remember all those who have lost their lives through work, sometimes through negligence but often through accidents and so on. He may wish to seek an Adjournment debate so that he can put on the record his views and some of the reminiscences and memories of those who have lost loved ones.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Thursday 11th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Lady raises a very serious matter. I encourage her to write to the Cabinet Office with her specific request. However, let me say more generally that none of us wants European parliamentary elections to be held, and as long as the UK leaves the EU before 23 May, they will not take place. The Government are doing everything they can to ensure that the UK has reached an agreement by that date. However, let me be clear: any extension beyond 12 April was going to put on us a legal obligation to have European parliamentary elections on 23 May in train. If the withdrawal agreement becomes law on both sides before 23 May, no European Union parliamentary elections will be held.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

It is reported that Stagecoach has been banned from bidding for further franchises, with pensions cited as a specific reason. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has rightly raised concerns about train operating companies meeting their pension liabilities. What can this Government do to ensure that train operating companies are meeting those liabilities and that there will be no attacks on pension rates of staff?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important point about workers’ rights. I am not sure whether he was able to attend the earlier urgent question, but if he was not, he might like to raise the matter directly with Ministers at Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy questions on 20 April.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Thursday 28th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

Good. My hon. Friend is a great champion of her constituents in Taunton Deane and they are very fortunate to have her. This very worthwhile project is undoubtedly pulling the community together. I understand that the Wellington monument will be the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world. I am sure that we all wish her constituents great success with its refurbishment.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

The Leader of the House mentioned tomorrow’s 11 o’clock deadline. Can she clarify when the vote is expected, so that we can make our travel arrangements?

[Andrea Leadsom]

Yes. As I mentioned earlier to assist the House, tomorrow will be a normal Friday sitting day starting at 9.30 am and finishing at the moment of interruption at 2.30 pm.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Wednesday 13th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

I am sure that there will be Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union on the Front Bench tomorrow. That might be an appropriate time for my hon. Friend to raise his specific questions.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

I am a new MP and I have lost my circus programme, so can the Leader of the house tell me what time close of play will be tomorrow? Or will there be an extension?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The motion that has been laid suggests that the House will carry on its debate until 5 pm, but that is a matter for the House to agree.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Thursday 19th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman raises an important constituency issue, as he often does, and he is right to do so. I suggest that he takes up that specific issue directly with Home Office Ministers or, if he wants to write to me, I can do so on his behalf.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

The Leader of the House will know that the housing crisis blights communities across our United Kingdom. Will she find time for a debate on the pay, terms and conditions of the senior management of housing associations? Money should be put into building decent and affordable homes for all our constituents, not filling bosses’ pay packets. I want to know what the Government can do about this.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

I call Alison Thewliss. [Interruption.] I beg your pardon; I call the Leader of the House.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Hugh Gaffney

Thursday 14th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

Another outing to the highlands sounds like great fun, and I would be delighted to attend and take part—I am sure there would be some sport I could turn my hand to. I congratulate all those who take part in the fantastic highland games for which Scotland is known throughout the world, and I am sure my hon. Friend will find other opportunities to raise the success of those games in this place.

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the rising cost of fuel at garage pumps, which is having a big effect on working families?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that this Government sought to get rid of the fuel duty escalator that was put in place by the previous Labour Government, in order to save motorists from the rising costs of fuel that were built into the fiscal position that we inherited. We have done everything we can to ensure that people can afford to fill their tanks. This is about a global price, and it is difficult for us to intervene in that, other than through the tax measures we have already introduced. The hon. Gentleman might wish to seek an Adjournment debate so that he can take the matter up directly with Ministers.