Debates between John Healey and Fiona Bruce during the 2010-2015 Parliament

Trade Union Funding

Debate between John Healey and Fiona Bruce
Wednesday 29th February 2012

(12 years, 8 months ago)

Westminster Hall
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Westminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.

Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

John Healey Portrait John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

On that point, will the hon. Lady give way?

Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I will, but I repeat the question that I asked earlier.

John Healey Portrait John Healey
- Hansard - -

Will the hon. Lady not accept that the facts show that where a trade union is involved with an employer, fewer days are lost through illness and injury and there are fewer employment tribunal cases and that there are, therefore, cost savings to the human resources function and the organisation, which are clearly benefits to the employer? If that is the case, is it not right to accept that the employer should bear some of the cost of the work that union representatives do for their work colleagues and for their employer and their organisation?

Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

We are saying that the cost is wholly disproportionate. Millions of pounds a year of taxpayers’ money are being used to fund this activity. I have said that much of the activity is worth while, but much of it veers towards being, if not is, political. During the past 13 years of the—

John Healey Portrait John Healey
- Hansard - -

Will the hon. Lady give way?

Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

No. [Interruption.] May I please give my speech, Mr Owen? [Interruption.]