Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Business Standards

30 September 2020 · 1 other contributor

Opened by John Martin McDonnell Lab Hayes and Harlington

Business ComplianceBusiness & Trade

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

John Martin McDonnell raised concerns about business standards in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The pandemic has prompted reflection on societal and economic values.
  • The Bill proposes a system to recognise and celebrate good business practices.
  • It aims to incentivise businesses to improve employee treatment, environmental impact, and tax compliance.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

John Martin McDonnell Lab Hayes and Harlington

The pandemic has made us all think about what we value in life and reassess how our society and economy operate. The Bill seeks to introduce a system that recognises and celebrates good practice in the UK's economy, focusing on the treatment of employees, environmental impact, and tax payment standards. It proposes establishing an independent 'good business commission' modelled after the Low Pay Commission, responsible for determining accreditation criteria based on employment practices, environmental policies, and tax compliance. The aim is to incentivise businesses to seek accreditation through enhanced reputation and potential access to Government financial support and tax reliefs.

Other contributors (1)
  • John Martin McDonnell Lab Hayes and Harlington

    McDonnell highlighted examples of companies such as Warburton’s and Richer Sounds, which have established agreements with unions to improve worker conditions and paid sick leave. In contrast, he criticised boohoo for its poor labour practices, British Airways for using the crisis to cut wages and terms of employment, and Amazon for oppressive working conditions and low tax payments despite significant sales growth.

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