Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Liz McInnes Excerpts
Wednesday 11th May 2016

(8 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Liz McInnes Portrait Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)
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10. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministers in the Scottish Government on the effect on Scotland of the measures proposed by the Trade Union Bill.

Anna Soubry Portrait The Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (Anna Soubry)
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The Trade Union Bill is now waiting Royal Assent. It is about employment and industrial relations law, which are reserved matters, and it will apply consistently across the United Kingdom. We have engaged with the Scottish Government through the passage of the Bill, and we will carry on with that work.

Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry
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I do not share the hon. Gentleman’s views on the Bill. It is an excellent Bill and I fully support it and its aims.

Liz McInnes Portrait Liz McInnes
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Parties in both Wales and Scotland have prepared legislative consent memorandums on the Trade Union Bill on the basis that the Bill clearly impinges on devolved competences. In the light of that, does the Minister not now agree that the Bill should be subject to legislative consent motions? What action will the Government take to ensure that similar circumstances do not arise in future?

Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry
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I am reliably informed that that has already happened. The hon. Lady is just not up to date on all of this.