Oral Answers to Questions

Bernard Jenkin Excerpts

Tuesday 15th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)]

4. What recent representations he has received on progress towards the objectives of the coalition agreement.

[The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg)]

The coalition agreement underpins all the work of the Government and is the subject of many ongoing representations to Ministers.

[Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that creating jobs in the economy is a vital objective of the coalition and that the private sector is indeed creating those jobs? Do the Government believe that the present system of tribunals to adjudicate on unfair dismissal is encouraging firms to take on new people or is it discouraging job creation in the economy?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

As my hon. Friend will know, we are looking at all the measures that we think hinder growth and job creation. We have already announced a significant change in the tribunal system such that the qualifying period is extended from one year to two years. We have also announced that we will explore the establishment of what are called “protected conversations” so that employers and employees can talk, as the name implies, in a protected way about the performance of those employees, which employers have demanded for a long time. They have welcomed it because they think it will help them create more jobs.