Employment Relations Bill
9:30 am
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk, Conservative)
I endorse what the Minister has said in welcoming you, Mr. Stevenson, and your colleague, Mr. Forth, to the Committee. We in the Opposition look forward to working with you.
I am glad that we have agreed some alterations to the programme motion. Initially, we took the view that there was no need for a programme motion on the Bill. As the Minister has pointed out, it is an important Bill but not one that will involve our getting into long detailed arguments. I have said all along that we will be constructive and positive about many parts of the Bill, but will want to concentrate on one or two specific clauses.
I regret the principle of the programme motion, but I want to thank the Minister and the Government Whip for their flexibility in allowing us a little more time for discussion of part 1. There are quite a few amendments on part 1, and I am sure that Government Members will want to make various comments. The Minister mentioned the union consolidation fund. It is regrettable that the Bill is already being used as an opportunity to add a variety of new amendments. Although we find that regrettable, we will obviously await the substance and details and return to the matter in due course. However, we are content with the programme motion as it stands.