Employment Bill

Baroness Blake of Leeds Excerpts

Wednesday 6th April 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I am afraid that I cannot commit to any specific measures that might be in any future legislation that the right reverend Prelate will be aware of. I recognise the concerns he addressed; it is very important for employers to consult their workforce fully before introducing measures such as this.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My Lords, the 2019 Conservative manifesto stated that it would

“encourage flexible working and consult on making it the default unless employers have good reasons not to.”

On 9 February 2022, BEIS Minister Paul Scully reasserted the Government’s commitment

“to introducing new employment measures”—[Official Report, Commons, 9/2/22; col. 1059.]

covering a range of matters. It is now being reported in the Financial Times that the long-awaited employment Bill is not expected in the Queen’s Speech in May. I am sure that the Minister is aware of the excellent debate led by the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann, exposing the urgent need for flexibility to stem the rapidly increasing loss of older workers from the workplace, especially due to health reasons and caring responsibilities. If there is no employment Bill in the Queen’s Speech, does this mean that the Government no longer believe that employees deserve this right to request flexible working?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I cannot commit to any particular measures, as I said in response to an earlier question. However, we have a very good employment law framework in this country, as evidenced by our unemployment rate, which is less than half that of France—which has a much more rigid employment framework. Therefore, flexible working is a good thing in this country because we have lower unemployment. The best right anyone can have is to have a job. It is right that we do not change the employment law framework until we are sure that any changes will address the needs of businesses and workers in the post-Covid economy.