Poundland
Debate between Ashley Fox and Kate Dearden(1 week ago)
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.
Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.
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Kate Dearden
I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of jobs and the uncertainty that lots of the employees are working through with the union. I pay tribute to them for all their work. We are committed to engaging with all stakeholders as much as we can, and we are making our priorities clear. We want the company to do everything it can to protect employees and suppliers. We are seeking clarity on its plans and a clear understanding of the situation.
Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)
The Poundland in Bridgwater closed in July. While the Minister is right to prioritise protecting jobs, will she accept that having introduced a £25 billion jobs tax, having added 350 pages of regulation in their unemployment Act and having delivered above-inflation rises to the minimum wage, it is her Government who are responsible for creating a hostile economic environment for British retail?
Kate Dearden
I am sad but not surprised to hear that response from Opposition Members. Their answer to a situation that is really worrying for 12,000 employees and so many more in the supply chain is to roll back rights for working people. That is not our answer. We are getting round the table and trying to protect jobs, as a responsible Government rightly should.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Ashley Fox and Kate Dearden(7 months, 4 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kate Dearden)
I thank my hon. Friend for her work in this area. The Government believe that trade unions are absolutely essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement and low pay. We are providing a legal framework for businesses and unions to negotiate access to the workplace. We recognise that for the framework to effectively facilitate that access, it has to be supported. That is why we are consulting on this. Officials are reviewing those responses, and we will publish a response in due course.
Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)