Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Courts and Munira Wilson

Thursday 17th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (Lab)]

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on helping to protect the jobs of workers in the aviation sector.

[Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)]

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on employment protection for people working in the aviation industry.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Robert Courts)]

The Government are working at pace to ensure the recovery of the aviation sector, and Departments are working closely together to progress options in support of individuals affected.

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Courts]

As I have said, the Government are quite clear that they regret some of the decisions that have been taken, although these are of course commercial decisions. What I welcome is the agreement in principle between BA and Unite on behalf of cabin crew, which encourages the spirit of partnership between employees, the airlines and the union, which I am sure the hon. Member will join me in encouraging across the sector.

[Munira Wilson]

As has already been noted, while it is welcome that British Airways has potentially dropped some of its bully-boy tactics of threatening to fire and rehire its workforce on much worse conditions, it comes too late for many employees who had taken the difficult decision to take voluntary redundancy, such as the single father in my constituency who could not afford to feed his family on 40% of pay. What steps is the Minister’s Department taking to support such individuals, because his Department’s response to the Transport Committee report said that it was the Government’s ambition to support these individuals where possible?

[Robert Courts]

It absolutely is the Government’s intention and desire to support these highly trained and highly valued members of our workforce. At the end of the day, we need to concentrate very much on the recovery and restart. The Government have already moved quickly to rebuild consumer confidence, collaborating with industry and the unions and across the sector. It is through that that we will ensure the vitality of the sector and those who work for it.