Honda in Swindon
Debate between Lord Watts and Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Unfortunately, I cannot, because I do not know anything about its hydrogen fuel cell technology. I will write to my noble friend.
Lord Watts (Lab)
My Lords, can the Minister be clear on what Brexit deal she would like this side to support? Is it the Prime Minister’s deal, which she did not vote for, or a mystical deal that does not exist?
Unpaid Internships
Debate between Lord Watts and Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
My noble friend gets to the heart of the matter because this is about social mobility. We have to ensure that placements are available; for example, people who are on work experience placements as part of a university degree are not liable to the minimum wage in those circumstances because those places would not exist if that requirement were not needed. We must pay tribute to all companies that take young people and give them the confidence to proceed in their career as they want to do.
Lord Watts (Lab)
My Lords, just because the Minister says things are improving does not mean that they are. Can she provide to the House and put in the Library the information on which she is basing her claim?
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
I will certainly see what evidence I can find and put it in the Library. As I have already said to noble Lords, it is very difficult to give an accurate forecast or indeed any evidence as to how many people are in unpaid internships. What is important is the extra money that will mean that HMRC can be far more proactive about the work that it does. This is up to third parties as well. I encourage the noble Lord and indeed all noble Lords: if they see a person working and they should be getting paid, it is up to all of us to take responsibility and report that behaviour so that it can be dealt with.
Slavery and Human Trafficking Statements
Debate between Lord Watts and Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
I am certainly not going to say that that will never happen. Businesses understand that this issue is not going away and that these statements have to be signed off by the board of directors. That means that these issues are discussed at the very top of a company, and that is important.
Lord Watts (Lab)
My Lords, can the Minister say when the review will take place and be completed, so that we can deal with the issues raised by a number of noble Lords?