Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers), Department of Trade and Industry; Bradford South, Labour)

On a point of order, Mr. Forth. Good morning, and welcome to the Chair. For the Committee's benefit, I would like to make an announcement about the intimidation of workers during statutory recognition ballots. The Committee will recall that that issue was raised a number of times on Second Reading and was touched on during earlier sittings of the Committee. At that time, I stated that the Government were considering the matter and would come back to the Committee. I am now pleased to announce that the Government intend to bring forward amendments to the Bill on Commons Report to deal with the intimidation of workers by either unions or employers during a statutory recognition ballot. We will of course seek to give hon. Members ample time to consider those amendments.

I hoped to bring the matter to the Committee's attention last Thursday during consideration of an amendment tabled by the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham), but as the amendment was not moved I was unable to do so.

Mr Eric Forth (Bromley & Chislehurst, Conservative)

I thank the Minister.New clause 7 Dismissal after end of protected period