Oral Answers to Questions

Harriett Baldwin Excerpts

Wednesday 14th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Maude]

Far from spoiling for a scrap with the trade unions, we are engaged in very intensive discussions with them. Even in the week during which the strike took place—a completely unnecessary strike, which the Labour party refused to condemn, massively inconveniencing many people and damaging the economy—a number of meetings took place with the trade unions to try to secure agreement on the much needed reforms. Let me remind the hon. Gentleman that Lord Hutton, the former Labour Pensions Secretary, has said that this is a generous offer and that the unions should stop “holding a gun” to the taxpayer’s head.

[Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)]

T6. Malvern has a cluster of firms—small, medium and large—with expertise in cyber-security. I invite the Minister down to Malvern to meet them.

[Mr Maude]

I can imagine nothing that would give me greater pleasure.