HC Deb 02 April 1998 vol 309 cc1404-6
11. Barbara Follett

What steps her Department is taking to promote co-operation between employers and employees in the workplace. [35983]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The Government are committed to decent, minimum standards of employment for all, underpinned by partnership at work. That is the best route to competitiveness.

Barbara Follett

I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he agree that recent initiatives by large employers such as British Aerospace and Tesco to improve workplace co-operation show that the present Government, unlike the Conservative party, are in touch with the needs of British business?

Mr. McCartney

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I join her in congratulating businesses on those initiatives. I also congratulate my hon. Friend because I understand that, this morning, her daughter Kim had a baby girl of 6 lb 9 oz. As a grandfather, I should like to congratulate my hon. Friend, and I shall send her a bottle of best Californian red, called Redwood. It is very drinkable, unlike the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), who is not very eatable.

The Government are absolutely committed to the principles and concepts of partnership in the workplace. Employees deserve to be treated fairly in the workplace, whether or not they are in a union. Joint efforts between management and employees to develop the business are the best way forward for British industry. That is why, overwhelmingly, in Britain, good business thrives where businesses treat their staff appropriately. I add as a footnote that 88 per cent. of top companies in Britain recognise trade unions.

Mr. Chidgey

In the context of the Minister's last remark, does he recall the Labour party manifesto pledge that trade union recognition would be a legal right where a majority of the relevant work force voted in favour? I am sure that the whole House would be grateful if he would take the opportunity to define for us what he means by "relevant".

Mr. McCartney

We gave a commitment at the general election, and we will honour it. Discussions taking place between the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry will produce, in the first half of this year, a White Paper, leading to legislation to introduce recognition in the workplace. That measure will be a major achievement in co-operation between both sides of industry.

I repeat that the purpose of the Government's drive for fairness and minimum standards in the workplace is to introduce a new culture in Britain: a culture of partnership. The "Fairness at Work" White Paper will be a major component in driving that policy.

Mr. O'Neill

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the surest ways of ending co-operation and partnership is to facilitate derecognition of trade unions? Therefore, will he do all that he can in the forthcoming weeks to ensure that firms with very few employees will still be able to enjoy the full fruits of trade union membership?

Mr. McCartney

The Government's policy is clear. We want to ensure that, in the workplace, individuals have the right, not only to join a union, but to enjoy the opportunities for that union to represent them in the workplace. The "Fairness at Work" White Paper will provide an opportunity to make it clear how that fits into the Government's strategy and policy on trade unions. It is also true that we want to encourage, throughout industry, partnership arrangements that bring workers, trade unions and employers together, to develop their enterprise and make it successful. My hon. Friend can rest assured, therefore, that the Government support and promote the interests of people in the workplace, and the idea that those interests should be represented by trade unions.

Mr. St. Aubyn

Given that, this week, on a visit to an employment centre in Penryn in Cornwall, the Education and Employment Select Committee found that there were virtually no jobs on offer at a rate of more than £3.50 an hour, does the Minister accept that, unless the minimum wage is set at a much lower figure than that, in areas such as Cornwall there will not be so many employees in the workplace?

Mr. McCartney

There is another hon. Member who disagrees with his leader. The hon. Gentleman wants to introduce wage cuts in the workplace. The Low Pay Commission has visited every region in the United Kingdom—Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the south-west—has taken evidence and, at the end of May, will set out its recommendations. Hon. Members can rest assured that, when the commission produces those recommendations, I believe that British employers will accept them overwhelmingly and will move quickly to implement a successful national minimum wage.