HC Deb 18 February 1975 vol 886 cc1095-6
14. Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish the representations he has received about the consultative document on the proposed Employment Protection Bill.

Mr. Foot

All the representations we have received about the Employment Protection Bill are being carefully considered but, in accordance with usual practice, I shall not be publishing them.

Mr. Brittan

Does the Secretary of State agree that however attractive some of the proposals in the proposed Bill may be, their implementation will add enormously to the costs of industry, especially to the small businesses which are now suffering badly? Will he give his estimate of the cost of the implementation of those proposals or at least undertake to publish an estimate in the near future?

Mr. Foot

I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree that the proper time for the House to discuss these matters is when the Bill is presented. When that is done, we shall give estimates of what we believe to be the economic consequences of these measures. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's view that this will impose an enormous burden of industry. Representations have been made to us on that subject. We have taken them into account. However, the Bill also offers great advan- tages for industry, including the carrying out of a further item in the social contract. I know how much the hon. Gentleman wishes to comply with it.

Mr. Tomlinson

Will my right hon. Friend take note that, rather than wishing for publication of the representations that have been received on the consultative document, most of his right hon. and hon. Friends are waiting for him to publish the Employment Protection Bill, which is of far greater priority than the consultations, although obviously the consultations must be taken into account?

Mr. Foot

I agree with my hon. Friend that that is the best way to go about it. I hope that a Bill will be introduced to the House of Commons in March, before Easter. The sooner we can make progress with it, the better.

Mr. Tugendhat

Before Christmas, the Secretary of State said that the Bill would be introduced in January. Before that, he said that it would be introduced before Christmas. Is not this an example of how mucked up the Government's legislative programme has become? Does the right hon. Gentleman believe that he will be able to get a measure of this sort through the House this Session together with the referendum proposals and everything else?

Mr. Foot

Everybody knows that we will get the referendum through. We certainly intend to get the Bill through too. I hope that the hon. Gentleman is not hinting at any conceivable obstruction, because this is one of the central Bills in the carrying out of the social contract, and I know how eager Conservative Members are for that.

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