Clause 1
Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill
9:30 am
Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston, Labour)
I beg to move,
That the Committee do now adjourn.
After being chaired by Mr. Hancock for two sittings, I now welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Martlew. I propose that the Committee adjourn in the light of the statements made yesterday by the Government and the social partners, the CBI and the TUC. I am sure that all hon. Members welcome the fact that there is an agreement on a way forward. The agreement is ground-breaking. Members of the Committee who played a part in it in one form or another should be proud of their role.
I thank those who have helped me from the trade union, Unite, in particular John Usher the lawyer who acted on its behalf, and Clare Moody. They have been incredibly helpful in forming my ideas on how to progress the matter. When the Bill was discussed on Second Reading, I brought in a couple of the big guns—neither of whom are here today—my hon. Friends the Members for Lewisham, West and for Nottingham, East. They did a fine job in helping me to maximise support for the Bill. I thank my hon. Friends the Members for Manchester, Central and for Aberdeen, North. As officers of the trade union group, they have worked hard on the issue for several years, as, indeed, have other members of the Committee.
I also thank all other members of the Committee who have contributed to our discussions. Our exchanges have been important. From the outset, the divisions between me and the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs were on how we reach a solution, not whether we would find one. I am absolutely delighted that he and his Department have been party to such a ground-breaking agreement. The differences between us and the official Opposition are more profound. There is clear blue water between us. According to advice that I have received from our good Clerks, I hope that, by adjourning the Committee, we can facilitate the formal process by which I shall withdraw the Bill. The Government and the social partners can then get on with finessing the deal that was made yesterday. Important steps must clearly be taken in respect of the European process, and some important domestic details have to be sorted out.
I do not want to take up any more of the Minister’s time when I want him to focus on that important task. With those few words, I beg to move the motion.