Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Employment Rights: Scotland

Wednesday 30 October 2024 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are taking a collaborative approach to employment rights in Scotland, working with businesses and trade unions.
  • The Government are making changes to paternity leave through the Employment Rights Bill, allowing it from day one and after shared parental leave.
  • The Government will work with the Migration Advisory Committee to encourage migration into Scotland, but emphasize it is the Scottish Government's responsibility to build houses and encourage people to live there.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Blair McDougall Lab East Renfrewshire
Employment Scotland
Context

The Employment Rights Bill had its Second Reading recently, and the Conservative party opposes it.

Question

What recent discussions has the Secretary of State for Business and Trade had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on supporting employment rights in Scotland?

Answer from Martin McCluskey

The Government are taking a joined-up and collaborative approach to making work pay, which has been developed with businesses and trade unions. We are committed to continuing that approach through consultation on the plan's implementation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details of discussions with Secretary of State for Scotland were not provided.

How: We Are Committed To Continuing A Collaborative Approach.

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Q2 Blair McDougall Lab East Renfrewshire
Employment
Context

The Dad Shift campaign seeks to increase paternity leave for more fathers, building on the tens of thousands already benefiting from it.

Question

Will the Minister support the Dad Shift campaign so that more fathers can enjoy paternity leave? Does he agree that this is a contrast with the Conservative party's stance?

Answer from Martin McCluskey

We are making immediate changes to paternity leave through the Employment Rights Bill, making it available from day one in a new job and enabling it to be taken after shared parental leave. We will take no lessons on employment rights from the Conservative party.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 John Cooper Con Dumfries and Galloway
Employment
Context

Criticism that new employment legislation will give trade unions too much power, citing an inability to attend events due to picket lines.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that we are indeed in the iron grip of the trade union barons since he was unable to attend an event in his own office last night because he would not cross a picket line?

Answer from Martin McCluskey

We will take no lessons from the Conservative party, which left us with a £22 billion black hole in the public finances that we are having to pick up. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will address this.

Not addressed: Specifics about trade union power and inability to attend events due to picket lines were not addressed.

How: We Will Take No Lessons From The Conservative Party.

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Q4 Stephen Gethins SNP Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Immigration Employment Scotland
Context

The Scottish National Party is concerned about demographic challenges in Scotland, seeking to incentivise more people to come to Scotland for employment.

Question

Have the Secretary of State and colleagues sat down with the Home Office to discuss encouraging more migration into Scotland?

Answer from Martin McCluskey

The Government will work closely with the Migration Advisory Committee, welcoming the contribution migrants make. However, we take no lessons from a party that supports zero-hours contracts and failed to support the Great British Energy Bill.

Not addressed: Details of discussions or commitment to discuss employment migration policy were not provided.

How: We Welcome The Contribution Migrants Make

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Q5 Stephen Gethins SNP Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Immigration Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government has suggested that there should be ways to attract more people to work in Scotland, but the UK government opposes this.

Question

Will the Minister confirm a commitment to working with the Scottish Government and holding a meeting between the two governments to discuss ideas for more migration to Scotland?

Answer from Martin McCluskey

We have committed to Scottish representation on the Migration Advisory Committee, but it is for the Scottish Government to do things like build houses in areas where we need more migration in order to encourage people to come to live in Scotland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to a meeting and detailed collaboration plans were not confirmed.

How: It Is For The Scottish Government To Do Things Like Build Houses.

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