Jim Cunningham
Main Page: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)(11 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Umunna
I completely agree with my hon. Friend.
Mr Kerr, who has since passed away, gave extensive evidence to the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs last November. In his evidence, he could not have been clearer about the involvement of the companies my hon. Friend mentioned.
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)
It is not just the construction industry. In the manufacturing industry, we used to come across such cases. When I was a shop steward, some years ago now, an organisation called Aims of Industry was very active. I am glad we are having this debate, because it was shameful that a lot of people were condemned not to work again. We talk about equality and everything that goes with that, so surely that should be utterly condemned.
Mr Umunna
I completely agree. Such practices are totally shameful.
Mr Kerr disclosed that after he was prosecuted and fined £5,000 for breach of the data protection regime in respect of the activities of the Consulting Association, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd paid the fine. Why did it do this? Not because David Cochrane, its head of human resources, was the chairman of the Consulting Association when it was shut down, although he was. No, the fine was paid by Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd because, as Mr Kerr told the Select Committee in November,
“I had put myself at the front and took the flak…so that they wouldn’t be drawn into all of this. They would remain hidden”.
Those involved cannot hide from the House today.