Employment Law

Lord Young of Norwood Green Excerpts

Monday 31st January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

My Lords, I believe that not to be so. We hope to put in place all sorts of measures to ensure that employers behave as they should. The consultation period should be open to as many people as possible. We hope that many will take the opportunity to help us to ensure that we get this legislation correct.

[Lord Young of Norwood Green]

My Lords, is the Minister really saying that it will take more than a year for an employer to assess whether an employee is suitable in their employment?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I heard a voice from behind me. I apologise. Would the noble Lord mind repeating his question?

[Lord Young of Norwood Green]

My Lords, is the Minister really saying that it takes more than a year for an employer to assess whether an employee is suitable in their employment? Does she agree that part of the problem, and the reason why there are so many employment tribunals, is the lack of knowledge and application of current employment laws?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I shall be careful how I answer the noble Lord because, just a little while ago, he was standing where I am standing. I think we are on the right track with this. We have so much evidence that small businesses in particular are not employing people. They are not growing as they should and they are afraid of taking on people and having to go to tribunals. All in all, I think this is the right way to go forward.