Schedule 1 - Constitution of public benefit corporations
Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill
9:45 am
Ms Hazel Blears (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (public health), Department of Health; Salford, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman may be a bit confused about what we are trying to do. We are not trying to create separate places for the people who are represented through their trade union. They will still have their bargaining rights, and, if they are members of the trade union, they will still have the right for their employment matters to be pursued. However, it is of a different order to ask people if they want to be long-term members of an organisation and for the next few years to try continuously to drive that organisation forward as a successful hospital in their community, whether they are workers or local residents. That is different from seeking to promote the particular interests of a particular group through a specific representative. The hon. Gentleman must get that distinction clear.