Blacklisting

Debate between Chuka Umunna and Mark Tami

Wednesday 23rd January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Umunna]

I thank my hon. Friend for that contribution. I have read the Hansard report of his exchanges with the Labour Minister at the time.

[Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that we are talking about not just those whose names appeared on the blacklist, but the many tens of thousands of people to whom it was made clear that if they raised issues such as health and safety, they might well appear on these lists? That was used to make sure that a lot of people did not raise perfectly reasonable issues.

[Mr Umunna]

That is right. Certainly, the anecdotal evidence that I have received absolutely confirms what my hon. Friend says. One of the problems is that there is what happens on the site and what happens in the boardroom. I have not come across a board director of any of the construction companies who would publicly or privately condone these practices, but these practices have been going on. One either acknowledges that and seeks to deal with them, or puts one’s head in the sand. It is the head-in-the-sand attitude that has been so unhelpful thus far.