§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on regulations appertaining to(a) trade union and (b) other organisations' ballot procedures which for public policy reasons were laid down by Parliament. [114995]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
So far as trade unions are concerned, when conducting ballots they must comply with the relevant legal requirements set out in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended (including 464W by the Employment Relations Act 1999). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly be commencing provisions of the 1999 Act which provide for balloting in connection with union recognition and derecognition. He has no plans for further changes to the law governing trade union balloting procedures.
As to "balloting" by other organisations, my Department published last year a consultative document setting out the Government's proposals for strengthening the current regulatory and best practice frameworks governing the level of company directors' remuneration. The document expressed the Government's concern that many listed companies have failed to respond adequately to the current best practice provisions on transparency, linkage to performance and accountability to shareholders and canvassed views on a number of options, including some involving additional shareholder voting requirements. The Government expect to announce the outcome of their consultation shortly.