§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce compensation for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. [152695]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe redundancy and insolvency payments provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 provide a safety net of minimum entitlements for employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The limits on payments under these provisions are subject to annual uprating. Employers and employees (or their representatives) are free to negotiate more favourable severance conditions than the statutory provisions require, if this accords with their own priorities, needs and circumstances. In most cases this is in fact what happens. The Government have no plans for any amendments to the law in this regard.