Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 29 October 1998.
Mr Paul Marsden
Labour, Shrewsbury and Atcham
12:00,
29 October 1998
what representations he has received on the fairness at work white paper. [55066]
Ian McCartney
Minister of State (Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry
The Department has received 474 responses, reflecting a wide range of views, to the white paper on fairness at work published on 21 May. I have placed a list of respondents in the Library of the House.
Mr Paul Marsden
Labour, Shrewsbury and Atcham
I assume that all sides in British industry have replied to the proposals. Will my hon. Friend lend his support to making partnerships in British industry work? As a former manager in British industry, I have seen the damage caused by conflict and disagreement. We need far more compromise and reconciliation. What are my hon. Friend's views on the proposed partnership fund?
Ian McCartney
Minister of State (Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry
There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the concept of partnership at work set out in the white paper, and to the specific proposal for establishing a partnership fund for innovative projects to improve the training of managers in the workplace and employee representatives, to encourage partnership approaches across a range of activities currently taking place in companies. That will ensure over time that the Government put their money where their mouth is and invest in processes to improve industrial and employee relationships across the workplaces of Britain. I am delighted to say that discussion with the social partners so far will enable my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make an announcement about those matters in due course.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
See "placed in the library".
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
