Employment Rights Bill - Commons Amendments and Reasons – in the House of Lords at 5:28 pm on 17 November 2025.
Votes in this debate
Lord Burns:
Moved by Lord Burns
Leave out from “disagreed” to end and insert “do disagree with the Commons in their Amendment 72C in lieu of Lords Amendments 61 and 72; and do propose Amendments 72D to 72H in lieu—
72D: Clause 59, page 86, line 24, leave out from “fund),” to end of line 25, and insert, “for subsection (1)(ca)(i), substitute “a requirement for the person to make a choice (without which the application to join the union cannot be processed) between being a contributor to the fund or not being a contributor to the fund, and””
72E: Clause 59, page 86, leave out from beginning of line 28 to end of line 9 on page 88, and insert— “84 Contributions to political fund from union members(1) It is unlawful to require a member of a trade union to make a contribution to the political fund of a trade union if the member has not chosen to become a contributor.(2) For the purposes of this Act, a member of a trade union is deemed to have chosen to become a contributor to the political fund of the union if they—(a) are an existing contributor to the political fund immediately before the date on which section 59 of the Employment Rights Act 2025 comes into force,(b) have chosen to be a contributor under the provisions of section 82(1)(ca)(i) or subsection (5), or(c) have chosen to become a contributor at a later date by submitting a political fund contribution change form under subsection (8).(3) A trade union must give a political fund contribution consent form to each member of the union within the period of eight weeks beginning with the day after the day on which a political resolution is passed by the members of the union under section 73.(4) A “political fund contribution consent form” is a form which requires the person to make a choice between being a contributor to the fund or not being a contributor to the fund.(5) Any member who is issued with a political fund contribution consent form under subsection (3) shall only be deemed to be a contributor if they have returned the form indicating that they wish to be a contributor.(6) A member of a trade union may change their choice about whether to contribute to the political fund at any time.(7) A member of a trade union may change their choice about whether to contribute to the political fund by completing a political fund contribution change form provided by their union and—(a) delivering it (either personally or by an authorised agent or by post) at the head office or a branch office of the union;(b) sending it by email to an address that the union has told its members can be used for sending such notices;(c) completing an electronic form provided by the union, and sending it to the union by electronic means in accordance with instructions given by the union;(d) by such other electronic means as may be prescribed.(8) A political fund contribution change form takes effect at the end of the period of one month beginning with the day on which it is given.84A Information to members about changing their choice on contributing to political fund(1) A trade union must give a political fund contribution change notice to each member of the union within the period of eight weeks beginning with the end of—(a) the period of one year beginning with the day on which a political resolution is passed, and(b) each successive year,unless during that previous year the political resolution is rescinded or otherwise ceases to have effect.(2) A “political fund contribution change notice” is a notice stating that—(a) each member of the union has the right to change whether they are a contributor to the political fund of the union, and(b) a member may exercise that right by completing a political fund contribution change form under section 84. (3) A political fund contribution change notice must be given in accordance with rules of the union approved for the purpose by the Certification Officer.(4) In deciding whether to approve those rules, the Certification Officer must have regard in each case to the existing practice and character of the union.”
72F: Clause 59, page 88, line 25, leave out subsections (4) and (5) and insert— “(4) The amendments made by subsection (3) apply only after the end of the transition period.(5) In subsection (4) “the transition period” means a period of not less than 12 months, starting on the day on which this section comes into force, specified by the Secretary of State in regulations made by statutory instrument.(5A) Before making regulations under subsection (5) the Secretary of State must consult—(a) the Certification Officer, and(b) all trade unions that have a political fund.(5B) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (5) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”
72G: Clause 59, page 89, line 2, leave out “84(1)” and insert “84(2)”
72H: Clause 59, page 89, line 6, leave out paragraph (b)
Lord Burns
Chair, Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House, Chair, Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House
I wish to test the opinion of the House.
Ayes 302, Noes 135.
Division number 4
Employment Rights Bill - Commons Amendments and Reasons — Motion E1 (as an amendment to Motion E)
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
A group of workers who have united to promote their common interests.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A person involved in the counting of votes. Derived from the word 'tallier', meaning one who kept a tally.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
