§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he has any plans to increase the number of hours that an employee must work each week before she or he can qualify for the main employment rights such as claims for unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payments;
(2) whether he has any plans to change the obligation on employers of more than five employees to allow a woman to return to the same or a suitable alternative job at any time within 29 weeks after the birth of a child;
(3) whether he has any plans to introduce a requirement for applicants to an industrial tribunal to pay a fee.
§ Mr. NichollsProposals or suggestions on these matters were set out in the White Paper "Building Businesses…Not Barriers" (Cmnd. 9794). They are still under consideration.