§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on employment in smaller firms of proposals to reduce the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years to one year.[43789]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyReducing the qualifying period should help to promote a more flexible labour market and encourage a more committed and productive workforce. It will therefore contribute to a fair and competitive labour market which will benefit small firms as well as large.