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4,729 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHorizon EuropeIt is clearly a difficult political time at the moment but I have great faith in the institutions of this country. I am sure we will get through it and continue the excellent work…07 Jul 2022HANSARDHorizon EuropeIndeed, the Northern Ireland protocol is the excuse that the EU gives for refusing to live up to its commitment. These are separate agreements and issues. We would prefer them to…07 Jul 2022HANSARDHorizon EuropeI agree with the noble Baroness that this co-operation has benefits for both sides and it is a shame that the EU continues to drag science into wider politics. Now, more than…07 Jul 2022HANSARDHorizon EuropeMy noble friend is exactly correct.07 Jul 2022HANSARDHorizon EuropeMoney is of course important but I agree that the international networks, both with the EU and wider partners, are also crucial. That I why we should like to associate with…07 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersIf the view of the modern Labour Party is that capping prices is effective in a modern industrialised market economy then I truly despair.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersWe are always happy to work with organisations that want to work with us. The P&O situation is entirely different; it seems clear that P&O acted unlawfully, although that is being…05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersI agree completely with my noble friend’s point. None of these regulations affects the existing safety provisions. Any staff who are drafted in will have to meet all the…05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersWe are confident that we are meeting all our international obligations. We are not interfering with the right to strike; workers still have the right to take strike action,…05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersI am not sure of the point the noble Lord is making. We want to work with all the appropriate agencies to, as the noble Lord says, plug the hole in the workforce.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersIf agencies do not wish to take part in the freedoms offered by these regulations then it is entirely their right not to do so.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersI meant yes in terms of believing in the right to strike; let me clarify that for the benefit of the House. Nothing in these regulations inhibits the right of workers to go on…05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersThe answer to the noble Lord’s question is yes.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersAs I said, this applies in all sectors of the economy. Agencies already supply a considerable number of personnel in the fields that the noble Baroness mentioned.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersThis is not specifically targeted at the current rail strikes. The regulations will apply to all sectors of the economy, not just the rail sector.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersMy Lords, the removal of Regulation 7, which gets rid of an outdated blanket ban on employment businesses supplying agency staff to cover strikes, is about ensuring that the…05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersThe noble Lord will not be surprised to know that I do not agree with him. We did consult the trade unions; in fact, the TUC submitted a petition of 25,000 names against the…05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersThe noble Lord pursues an innovative line of questioning that I did not consider in all the preparation I did for this. It is clearly something that I will want to bear in mind.05 Jul 2022HANSARDStrikes: Cover by Agency WorkersI answered that question earlier. This is an entirely different situation from the P&O dispute, as it was at the time. We were committed to taking action to prevent abuses such as…05 Jul 2022HANSARDPost Office: Horizon CompensationI can give my noble friend a very quick answer to that: yes, I can give him that assurance. Once again, I pay tribute to the work he has done in exposing this scandal.30 Jun 2022