Clause 196 - Super-complaints to regulators
Enterprise Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire, Labour)
I did not have a chance to discuss these ideas with my late uncle Arthur, but we certainly discussed the happy occasion when he met the hon. Gentleman.
G.D.H. Cole would probably have wanted to add something to my amendment, because he would want to raise the status of the workers more than this mild measure does. It is a quite peculiar proposal, in fact, because of the time in which I tabled it. Although it would allow producers to have a say with the OFT, that would be on consumer issues. I did not think about that matter earlier; it only came out of our discussions. However, there might be an opportunity later to clarify the proposal further, perhaps in the form of a more appropriate new clause.
After his guild socialist period, G.D.H. Cole's views moved on. As he became more involved in the politics of Labourism, he edged much more towards the position of the electorate and therefore the consumer, even though he still had a great commitment to the trade unions.
That is just about the position in which my amendment would put us. It would not turn the Bill on its head and is not designed to do something contrary to the principles on which it is based. However, the amendment would introduce into the Bill an interest that is not currently considered by it and which is being pushed ever backwards in modern society. Altering legislation so that that interest receives more consideration is important.
I merely wish to improve the balance of the Bill without changing it into something diametrically different. In response to my short speech the other day, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said that it was hard to answer my point as she needed to give it more thought. Now that I have tabled an amendment, presumably she and her office have given it more thought.
I am talking about a mechanism whereby trade unions and representatives of people at work in all forms and different grades can be involved in the consideration of market operations. The provision could provide for another set of people who could be consulted on consumer matters, or there could be a
mechanism whereby their more direct interests as producers could function without distorting terribly the operation of the market, while offering some safeguards for their position. The position of the consumer may sometimes be like that of David against Goliath, as was said this morning, but workers are sometimes in exactly the same position.
I may be told that this is the wrong Bill through which to deal with these matters, but we shall come later to the merger provisions, in which the work force has a clear interest; these may be subject to discussion.