HC Deb 05 August 1975 vol 897 cc256-7

4.32 p.m.

Mr. Barney Hayhoe (Brentford and Isleworth)

I beg to move Amendment No. 46, in page 18, line 44, at end insert and in consequence is neither paid for that day by his employer nor entitled to be paid by virtue of his contract of employment remuneration at least equal to the remuneration he would have received if he had been provided with work on the whole of that day".

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. George Thomas)

With this we may take Government Amendments Nos. 47, 62, 68 and 129.

Mr. Hayhoe

When we considered this Bill on Report last week, we made good progress by short speeches not only from both Front Benches but from all parts of the House. It is our intention to continue in the same vein today.

A similar amendment to this was moved in Committee when an undertaking was given by the Minister. I understand that the Government's amendments put into effect that undertaking. However, they do so in a fairly unintelligible fashion, because one has to search through the Bill to discover what is meant, whereas our wording is straightforward and simple. That is the way of legislators. If the end result is the same, I imagine that I shall seek leave to withdraw the amendment, having established that the Government's amendments serve the purpose that we have in mind.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Fraser)

The phrases "short speeches" and "good progress" sound like an oasis at the end of a desert. I shall certainly wish to fit in with that spirit.

The Government's amendments propose to do what the Opposition intended to do but what strictly their amendment does not do. The effect of the Government's amendments is that the five guarantee days would run concurrently with any contractual entitlement. The effect, though not the intention, of Amendment No. 46 is that the guarantee days would run consecutively. I am sure that the Government's amendments achieve what the Opposition want. I am glad that I have been able to make my speech so short.

Mr. Hayhoe

I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made: No. 47, in page 19, line 1, after "shall", insert "subject to the following provisions of this Act,".—[Mr. John Fraser.]

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