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Brian Cotter (Weston-super-Mare) (LD): I apologise to the Committee for the fact that I shall have to leave shortly for domestic reasons. I shall be brief. My party supports the measure, as I do personally because, back in my teens—now some time ago—one of my principal interests in launching into life was in works councils and the approach to consultation in business. Years on, I find that that is still lacking in some areas of activity. I welcome the regulations; we have lagged behind our European partners and others. It is also good that action has been taken to raise awareness, which is extremely important. The hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) mentioned the benefits in terms of costs to business. There are tangible benefits to business, but there are also intangibles, such as the change in the climate in firms, where people who work together now co-operate. That is something that I have tried to achieve in my business life, and I welcome it.
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Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North) (Lab): I put on record the thanks of many people in and around the trade union movement and on what we used to refer to as the other side of the fence. This measure will unite everybody in employment, in industry and commerce, and it is a positive step. Many trade unions have campaigned for it, as have many employers, over many years. It seems to bring us into line, at last, with some of the more progressive elements in Europe.
Will the Minister give one or two concrete examples of how he sees the regulations operating and of how he hopes that they will lead to better conciliation and consultation, so that we can have better industrial relationships?
Finally, I congratulate the Minister on pushing the regulations forward. That is what we have come to expect from him. I am also delighted that a Consumer Credit Bill was presented to the House of Commons—
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yesterday, I think—not least thanks to the Minister's efforts. Many of us who have had problems with loan sharks are grateful for his contribution on that too.
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Mr. Sutcliffe: I am grateful for the comments of hon. Members on both sides of the Committee. Information and consultation are working already. The Committee has been informed of the Consumer Credit Bill, which was presented to the House of Commons today.
If issues in Bills have been considered in great detail, Committees on delegated legislation tend to try to reach a quick conclusion and achieve agreement, and I intend to do that today. I do not want to minimise the impact of information and consultation or how the Government see those elements as key in improving and developing employment relations. Flexibility is a key word and the Government were keen to ensure that we did not take a one-size-fits-all approach.
The regulations represent the first time that the CBI and the TUC had sat together and reached a framework agreement, which I hope will be longstanding. We hope that we can approach many of the European directives and future legislation in that way.
The business case for informing and consulting employees has been made in our road shows and round table discussions. I am grateful to all those who participated in those discussions, whether they were from industry, human resources departments, trade unions or elsewhere.
The hon. Member for North-West Norfolk asked a number of questions that I shall try to answer but, in the usual fashion, if I cannot, we will give him the details on the costings that he asked for in letter form. The voluntary approach is to be encouraged. The legislation sets out the statutory framework, but we want more voluntary agreements. I am happy to report that there has been a substantial number of such agreements.
There is no undue haste in the consultation process. We sought legal advice in October on the guidance and regulations that we published. However, when the Government announced the commencement dates for legislation of April and October, so as not to impact on business with too many dates, we wanted to ensure that we hit the deadlines. We are happy with the legal advice that we have received, which we feel is entirely appropriate.
ACAS and CAC perform a vital role. I am happy that ACAS has the resources that it requires, although the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk may hear different on his visit next week. We have had substantial negotiations with ACAS about the implementation of information and consultation and I am happy with its resources.
My hon. Friend the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) rightly said that we have been campaigning for such legislation for many years.
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We live in a global economy and we need to ensure that businesses survive and develop in the UK. They can do that only where all sides of the business work as one. The regulations give that opportunity; they form the centre point of the employment legislation that we have introduced and will, I hope, change the culture and help to develop good working relationships among all sides in industry.
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Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That the Committee has considered the draft Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004.
Committee rose at four minutes past Three o'clock.
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