Chris Law MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 5 Mar 2025 · Department for Business and Trade · Hansard source

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  Obviously, increasing investment in Scotland’s economy is crucial to delivering the SNP Government’s priorities, which are improving public services, supporting a thriving economy, tackling the climate emergency and eradicating child poverty. I want to put this on the record again, just to be very clear in this House about the facts: Scotland’s economy makes it one of the best-performing parts of the UK. Its GDP has outgrown the rest of the UK by 50% since 2007, and productivity is at an average rate of 1.1%. It is vital that the spending of the Department for Business and Trade complements the Scottish Government’s efforts to increase investment and ensure economic prosperity. Increasing trade and attracting inward investment are critical for Scotland. In 2023, Scotland secured a record number of foreign direct investment projects, maintaining its position as the top performing UK area outside London for the ninth year running. According to Ernst and Young’s annual analysis, 142 FDI projects were secured in Scotland, which is double the UK’s growth rate. Scotland is clearly the best place to invest in these islands. However, this success must not be jeopardised by decisions by the UK Government. Obviously, the pressure employers are feeling on national insurance is negatively impacting on Scottish businesses, limiting their capacity to contribute to the economy. This tax on jobs undermines efforts to support businesses, entrepreneurs and investment. Labour’s political choice to remain outside the EU single market and customs union is costing the UK billions every year. Brexit—a decision Scotland never voted for— continues to hurt Scottish businesses, trade opportunities and economic prospects. A January 2025 analysis by the office of the chief economic adviser estimates that Brexit trade barriers could cost Scotland £4 billion, with exports potentially down 7.2% or £3 billion compared with EU membership. Scotland’s future therefore lies in the EU and the European single market. The Labour Government must acknowledge that standing outside the EU is driving down investment and growth. This will be crystalised by the potential trade war being initiated by President Trump as part of the “America first” trade policy. Free trade, a long-established principle, is under significant strain, bringing uncertainty for trade, with the USA and other nations imposing tariffs. I would speak about the vulnerable whisky industry, which needs to be revisited. I heard only today that the Government are withdrawing the idea of making English whisky a single malt, and I am pleased to hear that. I will finish by saying that the UK must recognise the value of Scotland’s industries and potential emerging sectors. Scotland is at the forefront of the energy transition and cutting-age technologies, presenting substantial opportunities for future growth. I look forward to hearing more about investments in Scotland, particularly in those sectors.

• 5 Mar 2025 · Department for Business and Trade · Hansard source

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  I am glad that the hon. Gentleman would like to hear it. What I just heard was breathtaking. I remind him that Scotland’s economy is one of the best performing in the UK. Since 2007, Scotland’s GDP per person has grown by 10.5%, outperforming the UK’s 6.5%, while productivity has risen at an annual rate of 1%. I would be curious to know what figures he is working from, because it is a topsy-turvy world, since Scotland has had the highest rate of foreign direct investment in the UK for the past nine years in a row outside of London.

• 5 Mar 2025 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q3. This week President Trump has ended military aid to Ukraine, reportedly banned the UK from sharing US intelligence with Ukraine and is now seeking to lift sanctions on Russia to appease Vladimir Putin, a murderous lying dictator. Regrettably, it is clear that, for now, the US can no longer be relied upon for security and peace in Europe, so will the Prime Minister provide leadership to our allies by urgently making the decision to be the first leader to release seized Russian state assets to Ukraine under the established principle of international law, so that Putin must pay, as the aggressor?

• 3 Mar 2025 · Ukraine · Hansard source

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  I thank the Prime Minister for being consistent in his message to his allies that any future negotiated peace must include Europe and Ukraine, must be sustainable, and must protect the territory and sovereignty of Ukraine. However, achieving that lasting peace will require engagement with civic societies engaged in peacebuilding, atrocity prevention and long-term conflict prevention initiatives, all of which are currently funded by our foreign aid budget. How does the Prime Minister hope to achieve those objectives when he has just followed the Trump playbook and announced a plan to cut overseas aid spending by 40%?

• 25 Feb 2025 · Tackling HIV and AIDS · Hansard source

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  What details can the Minister give us about the financing that will be given to the Global Fund? More importantly, there is a rumour that official development assistance is going to be cut from 0.5% to 0.2%, to cover an increase in defence spending. Can the Minister confirm whether that is the case?

• 24 Feb 2025 · Ukraine · Hansard source

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  On the third anniversary of Putin’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I welcome the United Nations having just passed a resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine. However, in the last 15 minutes—this will shock the House —it was opposed by Russia and the United States. It was said in the press that “This isn’t appeasement by Trump. It’s a direct stab in the back.” Will the Foreign Secretary condemn what has just happened in the United Nations, where the United States has joined Russia in not signing up to the resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine?

• 11 Feb 2025 · US Steel Import Tariffs · Hansard source

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  I have listened very carefully to what has been said this morning. We have known since November that this was coming, even though the press were saying that we would somehow get a special relationship. What is clear today is that Trump shows strength towards countries that are in a position of weakness, which is where the UK currently is. Is it not now time for this Government to think very seriously about being back in the EU, where there is strength against strength through the customs union and the single market? We do not know what else is coming down the line, and Scottish businesses need to know the future—it could be whisky, it could be fish or it could be manufacturing. Can the Minister give us some assurance about how he will stand up to the strength of global protectionism?

• 10 Feb 2025 · Point of Order · Hansard source

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  On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On 28 October, in response to a question on his statement on the middle east, the Foreign Secretary stated that the terms of annihilation, extermination and genocide were “largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises such as Rwanda and the Holocaust of the second world war. The way that people are now using those terms undermines their seriousness.” —[ Official Report , 28 October 2024; Vol. 755, c. 556.] The following day, I wrote to the Foreign Secretary seeking urgent clarification. The convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide states clearly that the genocide means a specific set of acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”. It is not defined by the number of people killed, but rather the acts committed and the intent behind them. Indeed, as recently as July 2024, the UK Government made a statement on the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, commemorating the massacre of approximately 8,000 mainly Muslim men and boys. I could go into some detail, but to get to the point, I have subsequently written two letters to seek clarification from the Foreign Office and the Foreign Secretary. In both accounts, I have had letters from the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr Falconer), neither of which address either what was said in the House or, indeed, the definition of genocide. The reason I stand here to make a point of order is this: have the UK Government moved away from what we have agreed to since 1947 in the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide? I seek clarification on the matter.

• 10 Feb 2025 · Biomass Generation · Hansard source

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  Biomass burning has always been a sticking plaster, and it has allowed successive Governments to claim green progress while continuing to emit immense amounts of CO 2 . The public were promised £20 billion a year of green investment, but instead we are getting less than 6% of what is needed. When will the UK Government commit to significant direct investment in long-term energy storage such as pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen production, so that the UK can move past burning forests for its energy?

• 4 Feb 2025 · Fuel Poverty · Hansard source

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  Despite Scotland being one of the most energy-rich nations in Europe, decades of mismanagement by different colours of UK Government—whether Labour or Conservative—have led to a shocking one third of households in Scotland living in fuel poverty. That number is set to rise, along with energy bills. The Government were elected on Labour’s pledge to cut energy bills by £300, but yesterday the chair of GB Energy admitted that that was “not in its remit” and was completely unable to say when bills would come down, alleviating fuel poverty. If this is not another broken promise from the Prime Minister, can the Secretary of State confirm exactly when in this parliamentary term consumers in Scotland will see that reduction?

• 4 Feb 2025 · Fuel Poverty · Hansard source

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  1. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of fuel poverty.

• 30 Jan 2025 · Avian Influenza · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minster for his update to the House about the spread of avian flu. I want to ask a couple questions. First, as this is happening in cities as much as in rural areas, how are people who live in cities being made aware that they should look out for dead or dying birds so that we can get a more accurate reflection of where it is spreading? Secondly, what discussions has he had with Departments of the Scottish Government to ensure that we have reliable and up-to-date data across these islands?

• 30 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  This week, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation forecasted child poverty levels across England and Wales for the next five years. The results are stark: child poverty rates are forecast to increase in both Labour-run Wales and Labour-run England. However, there is hope and a way forward. Child poverty rates in Scotland, which are already estimated to be the lowest in the UK, are set to drop further, with the SNP Scottish Government’s Scottish child payment recognised as a driving force in that reduction. Can we have an urgent statement from the UK Government on extending the Scottish Government’s approach to child poverty, including the Scottish child payment, to the rest of these islands to ensure that a reduction in child poverty is not confined solely to Scotland?

• 30 Jan 2025 · Industrial Strategy · Hansard source

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  Over the past week, the UK Government have committed to support a runway in London, a football stadium in Manchester and a science corridor for Oxford and Cambridge, yet for the past year, Conservative and Labour Governments have failed to act to secure the long-term future of Grangemouth, after INEOS announced the closure of the oil refinery. Despite general election promises to step in and save the plant, why are the Labour Government willing to jeopardise jobs at Grangemouth, the country’s energy security, which the Minister has just spoken passionately about the need to secure, and the wider industrial strategy through this inaction?

• 20 Jan 2025 · UK-Ukraine 100-year Partnership · Hansard source

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  This morning, I was struck to hear the Foreign Secretary describe Donald Trump as a man of “incredible grace, generosity…very funny, very friendly, very warm” and say that most of the world is glad he is back in power. Yet, as Trump re-enters the White House, there are significant concerns about whether support for Ukraine from the US—so far Ukraine’s biggest backer—will continue. With Trump boasting that he will stop the war in Ukraine in a day, and with his choice for US Secretary of State saying on Wednesday that Ukraine will have to make “concessions” to Russia, does the Foreign Secretary think that Ukraine is as happy as he is to see Trump back in power?

• 16 Jan 2025 · Employment Rights Bill (Twenty First sitting) · Hansard source

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  The hon. Member’s last point is an important one. When I approached this area of work to decide whether it fitted this Committee or whether it should be considered in immigration legislation, I took some advice. I appreciate, from a home affairs point of view, that this might not be the place for that point. However, it is the place for talking about it, and that is why the new clause has been accepted by the Clerks for debate today. I appreciate that this might also be an issue for the Home Office, but it is clearly an issue for the Minister in charge of employment rights, because at the end of the day it is not immigration rules that need to be changed. This is about making sure that employment rights are fit for everyone, regardless of whether they are here on a temporary or a permanent visa.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Employment Rights Bill (Twenty First sitting) · Hansard source

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  It would be easy for me to express exactly what the hon. Member for Torbay has just said in thanking everybody who has been involved. My only concern as we go to the next stage is that of all the amendments we have discussed and all the measures that have been proposed, not a single one has been adopted. There is an issue with that in general, because the Government have such a large majority. I guess that is not a bad thing for Labour Members, but it has meant that we have lacked the ability to really pull things apart. I hope that will come at the next stage. That is my only disappointment, but I wanted to put it on the record, because I know that it is a concern shared by other Members on both sides of the House. I hope that the Minister is listening so that we can get far more robust and real opportunities to amend and improve the Bill, which we all wish to see.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Employment Rights Bill (Twenty First sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. It is good to see you in the Chair, Sir Christopher. I believe this is the last of the new clauses to the Bill. It is imperative that employment rights are universal. Everyone should have access to them, regardless of their circumstances. That cannot just be theoretical; it needs to be applied in practice too. Although the Bill increases workers’ rights for many people, which I fully support, it will make no difference to their realities if they do not have the ability to access those rights or to seek redress when they are breached. To make the Bill as worth while and effective as it can be, we must take every possible action to strengthen it and to ensure that no one is denied their rights. We must do our utmost to prevent scenarios in which denial of employment rights and exploitation can exist. I have therefore tabled this new clause on access to employment rights for workers on temporary visas. I know that most of us in this room will have had constituents on those visas who have been exploited. If we accept the new clause, it will compel the Secretary of State, within six months of the Bill being passed, to commission an independent report on the extent to which workers on temporary visas are able to assert their rights under employment law. Workers on temporary visas consistently report that they are unable to assert the basic rights derived from being a worker in the UK. Why is that? Because they are dependent on their employer for not only their job but their ability to live in this country. More often than not, they do not have the same safety nets that others benefit from. For people in that situation, the stakes are simply so much higher. We know that migrant workers, who often incur large debts to migrate to the UK to work—to address labour shortages—simply cannot afford to report abuse, if doing so risks their jobs and visas. They are justifiably fearful that their employer, who sponsors their visa, will punish them and that they will be left without redress. Time and again, we see cases of workers who face unsafe conditions—including in my constituency and, I am sure, in those of everyone in this room. Whether it is underpayment or sexual harassment, they do not feel able to do anything about it, for fear of deportation. That lets exploitation run rife. By not addressing this issue, we are allowing a huge blind spot in the UK’s employment rights framework to continue unchecked. Until the Government address temporary and restrictive visas, the gap between workers only widens, entrenching the UK’s tiered workforce and leaving migrant workers behind. That is simply unacceptable. Restrictive visas have created a tiered workforce, where migrant workers face significant barriers to enforcing their rights, driving a race to the bottom in pay and conditions across the UK labour market. Such visas often limit the sectors in which workers are permitted to work or the employers for which they can work. Workers’ immigration sponsors may also be their employers or responsible for placing them in employment. This results in a vicious cycle, in which migrant workers are doubly punished for speaking out, first by unscrupulous employers and then by immigration enforcement, with a resulting loss of work, income and immigration status. That has allowed a proliferation of abuses, from non-payment of wages to overwork and sexual assault, among a litany of other labour and criminal law violations. It is important to recognise that workers’ experiences of exploitation can vary, but all these instances need addressed. At one end of the scale, there is decent, well-paid work, with bad practices such as breaches of employment rights culminating, at the opposite end, in severe labour exploitation, such as human trafficking and forced labour. Where minor breaches of rights occur and are not sufficiently addressed, it increases the risk of more severe exploitation further along, as well as driving down workplace standards. Surely the new Labour Government find that totally unacceptable? In working on the new clause, I engaged with Focus on Labour Exploitation—I have a briefing from it here, which I am happy to share with the Minister. FLEX is a research and policy organisation working towards an end to labour exploitation, and its recent research and policy work has focused on sectors where workers are known to be at higher risk of exploitation. The new clause, which is intended to be friendly and collaborative, would lead to an investigation into the extent of these issues and how they can be addressed. Any immigration system that does not proactively include mechanisms that enable workers to report exploitation—and ultimately leave an exploitative employer without jeopardising their employment, accommodation and immigration status—inevitably has exploitation baked into its design. To meet its aims, the Employment Rights Bill needs to address that. It is especially important that the use of restrictive or short-term visas is not allowed to prevent improvements in working conditions and pay in certain work sectors by facilitating access to workers who, due to immigration restrictions, are unable to challenge poor working conditions. One option open to the Government to combat that would be to introduce a UK workplace justice visa, drawing on international best practice. Such a visa would provide 12 months of renewable limited leave for those who have visas dependent on their employment and who have experienced labour exploitation or lost their employment and limited leave through no fault of their own. That would ensure that migrants with work visas who experience such issues have a route to remain and settle in the UK, to enable them to leave abusive work situations and, most importantly, to access justice. The new clause does not propose such a visa, but it is one option the Secretary of State should strongly consider as a way of supporting workers on temporary visas in the assertion of their employment rights.

• 16 Jan 2025 · Employment Rights Bill (Twenty First sitting) · Hansard source

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  I appreciate the comments that have been made in this short debate. Just to be clear, the new clause is about issues that are not currently protected under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and are often under-reported. I welcome the Minister’s comments about the fair work agency and the recent Low Pay Commission report, but I must ask about the timeframe. My suggestion—I will try to work with him on this—is that the timeframe be six months beyond the passing of the Bill, so that we can get decisions made. Perhaps the Secretary of State could let us know what kind of timeframe we are talking about, to give us peace of mind that action will be taken for those who are most vulnerable and have come here from overseas. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Schedule 1 Warrants under Part 5: further provision “ Part 1 Application of this Schedule 1 This Schedule applies in relation to— (a) applications for warrants under section ( Power to enter dwelling subject to warrant ) or 83, and (b) warrants issued under section ( Power to enter dwelling subject to warrant ) or 83. Part 2 Warrants: applications and safeguards Applications for warrants 2 (1) Where an enforcement officer applies for a warrant, the officer must— (a) state the ground on which the application is made, (b) state the provision of this Act under which the warrant would be issued, (c) specify the premises which it is desired to enter, and (d) identify, so far as is practicable, the purpose for which entry is desired. (2) An application for a warrant must be made without notice and must be supported by an information in writing or, in Scotland, evidence on oath. (3) The officer must answer on oath any question that the justice hearing the application asks the officer. Safeguards in connection with power of entry conferred by warrant 3 A warrant authorises an entry on one occasion only. 4 (1) A warrant must specify— (a) the name of the person who applies for it, (b) the date on which it is issued, (c) the provision of this Act under which it is issued, and (d) the premises to be entered. (2) A warrant must identify, so far as is practicable, the purpose for which entry is desired. 5 (1) Two copies are to be made of a warrant. (2) In the case of a warrant issued in electronic form, the copies must be clearly marked as copies. (3) In the case of a warrant issued otherwise than in electronic form, the copies must be clearly certified as copies. Part 3 Execution of warrants Warrant to be executed within three months 6 Execution of a warrant must be within three months from the date of its issue. Time of entry 7 Execution of a warrant must be at a reasonable time, unless it appears to the officer executing it that there are grounds for suspecting that the purpose of entering the premises may be frustrated if the officer seeks to enter at a reasonable time. Evidence of authority etc 8 (1) Where the occupier of premises to be entered under a warrant is present at the time when an enforcement officer seeks to execute the warrant, the following requirements must be satisfied— (a) the officer must produce to the occupier documentary evidence of the fact that the officer is an enforcement officer; (b) if the officer is asked for it, the occupier must be told the officer’s name; (c) the officer must produce the warrant to the occupier; (d) the officer must supply the occupier with a copy of the warrant that is marked or certified as a copy in accordance with paragraph 5. (2) Where— (a) the occupier of premises to be entered under a warrant is not present when an enforcement officer seeks to execute it, but (b) some other person who appears to the officer to be in charge of the premises is present, sub-paragraph (1) has effect as if any reference to the occupier were a reference to that other person. (3) If there is no person present who appears to the enforcement officer to be in charge of the premises, the officer must leave a copy of the warrant, marked or certified as a copy in accordance with paragraph 5, in a prominent place on the premises. Securing premises after entry 9 An enforcement officer who enters premises under a warrant must take reasonable steps to ensure that when the officer leaves the premises they are as secure as they were before the officer entered. Return and retention of warrants 10 (1) A warrant which— (a) has been executed, or (b) has not been executed within the time authorised for its execution, must be returned to the appropriate person. (2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) the appropriate person is— (a) in the case of a warrant issued in England and Wales, the designated officer for the local justice area in which the justice was acting when the warrant was issued; (b) in the case of a warrant issued in Scotland by a justice of the peace, the clerk of the justice of the peace court in the sheriffdom for which the justice of the peace was appointed; (c) in the case of a warrant issued in Scotland by a sheriff or a summary sheriff, the sheriff clerk; (d) in the case of a warrant issued in Northern Ireland, the clerk of petty sessions. (3) A warrant that is returned under this paragraph must be retained by the person to whom it is returned for a period of 12 months. (4) If during that period the occupier of the premises to which the warrant relates asks to inspect it, the occupier must be allowed to do so.”— (Justin Madders.) This new Schedule makes further provision about applications for, and the execution of, warrants under Part 5. Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill. New Schedule 2 Increase in time limits for making claims “ Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 1 (1) In regulation 11 of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977/500) (time off for safety representatives), in paragraph (2), for ‘three’, in both places it occurs, substitute ‘six’. (2) In regulation 12 of those Regulations— (a) in paragraph (2), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (3), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (c) in paragraph (4), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 2 (1) The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 is amended as follows. (2) In section 66 (unjustifiable discipline by union), in subsection (2)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (3) In section 68A (unauthorised deduction of union subscriptions), in subsection (1)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (4) In section 70C (collective bargaining: obligations relating to training), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (5) In section 87 (unlawful deduction of contributions to political fund), in subsection (2)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (6) In section 139 (refusal of employment on grounds related to union membership), in subsection (1)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (7) In section 145C (inducements), in subsection (1)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (8) In section 147 (detriment for trade union activities), in subsection (1)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (9) In section 171 (time off for trade union activities), in subsection (1)(a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (10) In section 189 (consultation in collective redundancy), in subsection (5)— (a) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (c), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (11) In section 192 (remuneration under protective award), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (12) In paragraph 157 of Schedule A1 (detriment in relation to trade union recognition), in sub-paragraph (1)(a), for ‘3’ substitute ‘six’. Pension Schemes Act 1993 3 In section 126 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (unpaid pension contributions), in subsection (2), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Employment Rights Act 1996 4 (1) The Employment Rights Act 1996 is amended as follows. (2) In section 11 (written statements), in subsection (4)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (3) In section 23 (protection of wages)— (a) in subsection (2), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in subsection (4), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (4) In section 27N (information relating to tips etc)— (a) in subsection (2), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in subsection (3), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (5) In section 34 (guarantee payments), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (6) In section 48 (detriment in employment), in subsection (3)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (7) In section 51 (time off for public duties), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (8) In section 54 (time off following redundancy), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (9) In section 57 (time off for ante-natal care), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (10) In section 57ZC (time off for ante-natal care: agency workers), in subsection (3)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (11) In section 57ZF (time off to accompany to ante-natal appointment), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (12) In section 57ZH (time off to accompany to ante-natal appointment: agency workers), in subsection (3)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (13) In section 57ZM (time off to attend adoption appointments), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (14) In section 57ZQ (time off to attend adoption appointments: agency workers), in subsection (3)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (15) In section 57B (time off for dependants), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (16) In section 60 (time off for pension scheme trustees), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (17) In section 63 (time off for employee representatives), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (18) In section 63C (time off for study or training), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (19) In section 63I (requests in relation to study or training), in subsection (5)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (20) In section 70 (rights following suspension from work)— (a) in subsection (2)— (i) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (ii) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in subsection (5)— (i) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (ii) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (21) In section 70A (rights of agency worker where supply is ended on maternity grounds)— (a) in subsection (2)— (i) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (ii) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in subsection (5)— (i) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (ii) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (22) In section 80 (parental leave), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (23) In section 80H (right to request flexible working), in subsection (5)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (24) In section 80N (carer’s leave), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (25) In section 111 (unfair dismissal), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (26) In section 188 (rights on insolvency of employer), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 5 (1) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1513) (time off for representatives of employee safety etc), for ‘three’, in both places it occurs, substitute ‘six’. (2) In paragraph 3A of that Schedule— (a) in sub-paragraph (2), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (3), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (c) in sub-paragraph (4), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Working Time Regulations 1998 6 In regulation 30 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/1833) (rights as to working time), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for the words from ‘three months’ to ‘six months)’ substitute ‘six months’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), omit ‘three or, as the case may be,’. National Minimum Wage Act 1998 7 In section 11 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 (access to records)— (a) in subsection (3), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in subsection (4), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Employment Relations Act 1999 8 In section 11 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 (right to be accompanied), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999 9 (1) In regulation 27 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/3323) (time off for members of a European Works Council etc)— (a) in the heading, for ‘tribunals’ substitute ‘employment tribunals in Great Britain’; (b) in paragraph (1), for the words from ‘complaint,’ to ‘, that’ substitute ‘complaint to an employment tribunal in Great Britain that’; (c) in paragraph (2)— (i) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (ii) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (d) omit paragraph (2B). (2) In the heading of regulation 27A of those Regulations (extension of time limit to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings), at the end insert ‘in Great Britain’. (3) After regulation 27A of those Regulations insert— ‘ Right to time off: complaints to industrial tribunals in Northern Ireland (1) An employee may present a complaint to an industrial tribunal in Northern Ireland that the employee’s employer– (a) has unreasonably refused to permit the employee to take time off as required by regulation 25; or (b) has failed to pay the whole or any part of any amount to which the employee is entitled under regulation 26. (2) A tribunal shall not consider a complaint under this regulation unless it is presented– (a) before the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which the time off was taken or on which it is alleged the time off should have been permitted; or (b) within such further period as the tribunal considers reasonable in a case where it is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for the complaint to be presented before the end of that period of three months. (3) Regulation 27B (extension of time limit to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings in Northern Ireland) applies for the purposes of paragraph (2). (4) Where a tribunal finds a complaint under this regulation well-founded, the tribunal shall make a declaration to that effect. (5) If the complaint is that the employer has unreasonably refused to permit the employee to take time off, the tribunal shall also order the employer to pay to the employee an amount equal to the remuneration to which the employee would have been entitled under regulation 26 if the employer had not refused. (6) If the complaint is that the employer has failed to pay the employee the whole or part of any amount to which the employee is entitled under regulation 26, the tribunal shall also order the employer to pay to the employee the amount which it finds due to the employee.’ (4) In regulation 27B of those Regulations (extension of time limit to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings in Northern Ireland)— (a) in paragraph (2), for ‘27(2)(a)’ substitute ‘27AA(2)(a)’; (b) in paragraph (3), for ‘27(2)(a)’ substitute ‘27AA(2)(a)’; (c) in paragraph (4), for ‘27(2)(b)’ substitute ‘27AA(2)(b)’. Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003 10 In regulation 18 of the Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3049) (merchant shipping: rights as to working time), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Civil Aviation (Working Time) Regulations 2004 11 In regulation 18 of the Civil Aviation (Working Time) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/756) (civil aviation: rights as to working time), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004 12 In regulation 19 of the Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1713) (fishing vessels: rights to rest and leave), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 13 (1) The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246) are amended as follows. (2) In regulation 12 (notification of employee liability information), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. (3) In regulation 15 (information and consultation requirements), in paragraph (12)— (a) in the words before sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in the words after sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 14 In regulation 17 of the Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1660) (cross-border railway services: rights as to working time), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 15 In regulation 28 of the European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401) (time off for members of special negotiating body etc), in paragraph (2)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Agency Workers Regulations 2010 16 In regulation 18 of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/93) (rights of agency workers), in paragraph (4), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’. Equality Act 2010 17 In section 123 of the Equality Act 2010 (discrimination etc at work), in subsection (1)(a), for “3” substitute “6”. Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 18 In regulation 26 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58) (rights of seafarers to leave), in paragraph (6), for ‘three’ substitute ‘six’.”— (Justin Madders.) This new Schedule would increase time limits for making claims in employment tribunals (and, in certain cases, industrial tribunals in Northern Ireland) from three months to six months. Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill. New Schedule 3 Seafarers’ wages and working conditions “ Amendment of Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 1 The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 (“the Act”) is amended in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 23. Part 1 of the Act: relevant services 2 For the italic heading before section 1 substitute— ‘ Part 1 Relevant services’. 3 In section 1 (services to which this Act applies)— (a) for the heading substitute ‘Relevant services’; (b) in subsection (1), for ‘This Act applies to’ substitute ‘In this Act, “relevant service” means’; (c) in subsection (2), for ‘this Act does not apply to’ substitute ‘“relevant service” does not include’; (d) for subsection (4) substitute— ‘(4) In this Act, “ship”— (a) includes— (i) any kind of vessel used in navigation, and (ii) hovercraft; (b) includes a ship which is registered in a State other than the United Kingdom.’ Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Act: non-qualifying seafarers 4 After section 1 insert— ‘ Part 2 Remuneration of seafarers Chapter 1 Non-qualifying seafarers’. 5 In section 2 (non-qualifying seafarers), in paragraph (a), for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’. Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Act: national minimum wage equivalence declarations 6 For the italic heading before section 3 substitute— ‘ Chapter 2 National minimum wage equivalence declarations’. 7 In section 3 (request for declaration)— (a) in the heading, after ‘for’ insert ‘equivalence’; (b) in subsection (1)— (i) for ‘Act applies’ substitute ‘Chapter applies (see subsection (4A))’; (ii) at the end insert ‘(see section 19 for the meaning of “relevant year”)’; (c) after subsection (4) insert— ‘(4A) This Chapter applies to a relevant service, subject to provision made by remuneration regulations in reliance on section 4A(6).’; (d) omit subsections (5) and (6). 8 In section 4 (nature of declaration)— (a) in the heading, after ‘of’ insert ‘equivalence’; (b) after subsection (5) insert— ‘(5A) For the meaning of “UK work”, see section 19. (5B) For the meaning of “national minimum wage equivalent”, see section 4D(1).’; (c) omit subsections (6) to (10). Chapters 3 and 4 of Part 2 of the Act: remuneration regulations and declarations 9 After section 4 insert— ‘ Chapter 3 Remuneration regulations and declarations Remuneration regulations 4A Remuneration regulations (1) Regulations may specify requirements relating to the remuneration of non-qualifying seafarers in respect of their work carried out in relation to the provision of a relevant service (whether or not in the territorial waters of the United Kingdom). (2) In this Act, regulations under subsection (1) are referred to as “remuneration regulations”. (3) Remuneration regulations may relate to remuneration in respect of only some of the work carried out in relation to the provision of a relevant service, and may frame such provision by reference to the waters in which the work is carried out or in any other way. (4) Remuneration regulations may apply to— (a) all relevant services, or (b) one or more relevant services of a specified description. (5) For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), a service may be described by reference to (among other things) the route operated by the service. (6) Remuneration regulations may provide that Chapter 2 does not apply to any extent to a relevant service to which the regulations apply. Remuneration declarations 4B Request for remuneration declaration (1) Subsection (2) applies where a harbour authority has reasonable grounds to believe that ships providing a service to which remuneration regulations apply will enter, or have entered, its harbour on at least— (a) 120 occasions, or (b) if remuneration regulations specify a higher number in relation to services of a specified description and the service is of that description, that higher number of occasions, during a relevant year (see section 19 for the meaning of “relevant year”). (2) The harbour authority must, within such period as is determined by regulations under this subsection, request that the operator of the service provide the authority with a remuneration declaration in respect of the service for the relevant year. (3) The duty under subsection (2) is subject to any direction given by the Secretary of State under section 16(1)(a). (4) A harbour authority which fails to comply with subsection (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction— (a) in England and Wales, to a fine, or (b) in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. 4C Nature of remuneration declaration (1) A remuneration declaration in respect of a service for a relevant year is a declaration within any of subsections (2) to (5). (2) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided before the beginning of the relevant year and it is to the effect that— (a) in the relevant year there will be no non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service, or (b) in the relevant year non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service will be remunerated in respect of their work in relation to the service in accordance with the remuneration regulations that apply in relation to them. (3) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided during the relevant year and it is to the effect that— (a) in what remains of the relevant year there will be no non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service, or (b) in what remains of the relevant year non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service will be remunerated in respect of their work in relation to the service in accordance with the remuneration regulations that apply in relation to them. (4) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided during the relevant year and it is to the effect that— (a) in so much of the relevant year as has already occurred— (i) there have been no non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service, or (ii) non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service have been remunerated in respect of their work in relation to the service in accordance with the remuneration regulations that apply in relation to them, and (b) in what remains of the relevant year— (i) there will be no non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service, or (ii) non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service will be remunerated in respect of their work in relation to the service in accordance with the remuneration regulations that apply in relation to them. (5) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided after the end of the relevant year and it is to the effect that— (a) in the relevant year there were no non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service, or (b) in the relevant year non-qualifying seafarers working on ships providing the service were remunerated in respect of their work in relation to the service in accordance with the remuneration regulations that apply in relation to them. Chapter 4 Chapters 2 and 3: supplementary regulations 4D Regulations about national minimum wage equivalent etc (1) For the purposes of this Part, the national minimum wage equivalent is an hourly rate specified in regulations. (2) Regulations may make provision for determining for the purposes of this Part— (a) the hourly rate at which a non-qualifying seafarer is remunerated in any period in respect of any work, and (b) whether, or the extent to which, a non-qualifying seafarer’s work in relation to a relevant service is UK work. (3) Regulations under subsection (2)(a) may in particular make— (a) any provision referred to in section 2(2) to (6) of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998; (b) provision relating to currency conversion. (4) Subsection (5) applies for the purposes of— (a) section 4, and (b) remuneration regulations that are framed by reference to the national minimum wage equivalent. (5) The Secretary of State must in making regulations under this section seek to secure that a non-qualifying seafarer is remunerated at a rate equal to the national minimum wage equivalent only if their remuneration is in all the circumstances broadly equivalent to the remuneration they would receive if they qualified for the national minimum wage.’ Part 3 of the Act: seafarers’ working conditions 10 After section 4D (inserted by paragraph 9 of this Schedule) insert— ‘ Part 3 Seafarers’ working conditions Safe working regulations 4E Safe working regulations (1) In this Part, “seafarer” means a person who works on a ship providing a relevant service. (2) Regulations may specify conditions relating to the working pattern and rest requirements of seafarers who carry out work relating to the provision of a relevant service, including conditions about— (a) their maximum periods of work in a specified period; (b) their minimum periods of rest in a specified period. (3) Regulations may make provision for the purpose of managing and mitigating risks arising from fatigue suffered by seafarers when carrying out their work relating to the provision of a relevant service. (4) Regulations under subsection (3) may, among other things— (a) require the operator of a relevant service to produce a plan to manage and mitigate risks arising from fatigue suffered by seafarers when carrying out their work relating to the provision of the service (a “fatigue management plan”); (b) make provision about the contents of such a plan by reference to a specified document as amended from time to time. (5) Regulations may make provision for and in connection with the training of seafarers who carry out work relating to the provision of a relevant service, for the purpose of ensuring— (a) the safety of the ship on which they work, (b) the safety of things on the ship, or (c) the health or safety of persons on the ship. (6) In this Act, regulations under subsection (2), (3) or (5) are referred to as “safe working regulations”. (7) Safe working regulations may impose requirements on the operator of a relevant service. (8) Safe working regulations may apply to— (a) all relevant services, or (b) one or more relevant services of a specified description. (9) For the purposes of subsection (8)(b), a service may be described by reference to (among other things) the route operated by the service. Safe working declarations 4F Request for safe working declaration (1) Subsection (2) applies where a harbour authority has reasonable grounds to believe that ships providing a service to which safe working regulations apply will enter, or have entered, its harbour on at least— (a) 120 occasions, or (b) if safe working regulations specify a higher number in relation to services of a specified description and the service is of that description, that higher number of occasions, during a relevant year (see section 19 for the meaning of “relevant year”). (2) The harbour authority must, within such period as is determined by regulations under this subsection, request that the operator of the service provide the authority with a safe working declaration in respect of the service for the relevant year. (3) The duty under subsection (2) is subject to any direction given by the Secretary of State under section 16(1)(a). (4) A harbour authority which fails to comply with subsection (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction— (a) in England and Wales, to a fine, or (b) in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. 4G Nature of safe working declaration (1) A safe working declaration in respect of a service for a relevant year is a declaration within any of subsections (2) to (5). (2) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided before the beginning of the relevant year and it is to the effect that the safe working conditions will be met in relation to the service in the relevant year. (3) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided during the relevant year and it is to the effect that the safe working conditions will be met in relation to the service in what remains of the relevant year. (4) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided during the relevant year and it is to the effect that— (a) the safe working conditions have been met in relation to the service in so much of the relevant year as has already occurred, and (b) the safe working conditions will be met in relation to the service in what remains of the relevant year. (5) A declaration is within this subsection if it is provided after the end of the relevant year and it is to the effect that the safe working conditions were met in relation to the service in the relevant year. (6) For the purposes of this section the safe working conditions are met in relation to a service at a particular time if at that time— (a) the service is operated in compliance with regulations under section 4E(2) or (3) that apply to the service, (b) the service is operated in compliance with a fatigue management plan that is required for the service by regulations under section 4E(3) (see section 4E(4)), and (c) the service is operated in compliance with regulations under section 4E(5) that apply to the service. (7) References in subsection (6) to the operation of a service include references to its operation outside the territorial waters of the United Kingdom.’ Part 4 of the Act: enforcement of Parts 2 and 3 11 After section 4G (inserted by paragraph 10 of this Schedule) insert— ‘ Part 4 Enforcement of Parts 2 and 3 Offence of operating service inconsistently with declaration ’. 12 In section 5 (offence of operating service inconsistently with declaration)— (a) in subsection (1)— (i) for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’; (ii) in paragraph (a), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’; (b) in subsections (2), (3) and (4), omit ‘equivalence’. 13 (1) Section 6 (imposition of surcharges: failure to provide declaration in time) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1)(a)— (a) for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’; (b) for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’. (3) In subsection (1)(b), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘the requested declaration’. (4) In subsection (2)(b)(ii), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘the requested declaration’. (5) In subsection (3)(b)(ii), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘the requested declaration’. (6) In subsection (5)(a), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘the requested declaration’. (7) In subsection (5)(b), for ‘section 4(4) or (5).’ substitute ‘— (i) section 4(4) or (5), (ii) section 4C(4) or (5), or (iii) section 4G(4) or (5), (whichever applies).’ (8) In subsection (6)— (a) for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’; (b) in the definition of ‘prescribed period’, for ‘3(5)(a)’ substitute ‘16A(1)(a)’; (c) in the definition of ‘prescribed form and manner’, for ‘3(5)(b) and (c)’ substitute ‘16A(1)(b) and (c)’. 14 In section 7 (imposition of surcharges: in-year declaration that is prospective only), in subsection (1)— (a) in paragraph (a)— (i) for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’; (ii) for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’; (b) in paragraph (b), for ‘3(5)’ substitute ‘16A(1)’; (c) in paragraph (c), for the words from ‘within subsection (3)’ to the end substitute ‘— (i) within subsection (3) of section 4 (and not also within subsection (4) of that section), (ii) within subsection (3) of section 4C (and not also within subsection (4) of that section), or (iii) within subsection (3) of section 4G (and not also within subsection (4) of that section), (whichever applies).’ 15 (1) Section 8 (imposition of surcharges: operating inconsistently with declaration) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1)(a)— (a) for ‘service to which this Act applies” substitute ‘relevant service’; (b) for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’. (3) In subsection (3), after ‘equivalence declaration’ insert ‘, remuneration declaration or safe working declaration (as the case may be)’; (4) In subsection (4)(a)— (a) for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’; (b) for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’. (5) In subsection (6), after ‘equivalence declaration’ insert ‘, remuneration declaration or safe working declaration (as the case may be)’. 16 In section 11 (refusal of harbour access for failure to pay surcharge), in subsection (1), for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’. 17 (1) Section 12 (provision of information by operators) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1)— (a) for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’; (b) in paragraphs (a) and (b), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’. (3) In subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (b), at the beginning insert ‘for the purposes of Part 2,’; (b) after paragraph (b) insert— ‘(c) for the purposes of Part 3— (i) information relating to the working pattern, working conditions or training of persons working on ships providing the service; (ii) a fatigue management plan produced by the operator of the service (see section 4E(4)(a)).’ (4) In subsection (5), for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’. 18 In section 13 (provision of information by harbour authorities), in subsection (2)(b), omit ‘equivalence’. 19 In section 14 (inspections), in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (a), for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’; (b) in paragraphs (a) and (b), for ‘an equivalence declaration’ substitute ‘a declaration’. Part 5 of the Act: general and final provisions 20 After section 15 insert— ‘ Part 5 General and final provisions’. 21 After section 16 insert— ‘ 16A Regulations about declarations (1) Regulations may make provision— (a) as to the period within which declarations are to be provided; (b) as to the wording of declarations and the form in which they are to be provided; (c) as to the manner in which declarations are to be provided. (2) Regulations under subsection (1)(b) may specify a single form combining different kinds of declarations (but a requirement to provide a declaration in such a form does not require an operator of a service to provide a declaration which a harbour authority has not requested the operator to provide).’ 22 In section 17 (regulations)— (a) in the heading, at the end insert ‘: general’; (b) in subsection (2)(a), for sub-paragraph (i) (but not the ‘or’ after it) substitute— ‘(i) relevant service,’. 23 (1) Section 19 (general interpretation) is amended as follows. (2) After the definition of ‘the data protection legislation’ insert— ‘“declaration” (without more) means— (a) an equivalence declaration, (b) a remuneration declaration, or (c) a safe working declaration;’. (3) Omit the definition of ‘national minimum wage equivalent’. (4) In the definition of ‘operator’, for ‘service to which this Act applies’ substitute ‘relevant service’. (5) After the definition of ‘operator’ insert— ‘“relevant service” has the meaning given by section 1;’. (6) In the definition of ‘relevant year’, for ‘has the meaning given by section 3(6);’ substitute ‘means— (a) the period of 12 months beginning with a date specified in regulations, and (b) each successive period of 12 months;’. (7) After the definition of ‘relevant year’ insert— ‘“remuneration declaration” has the meaning given by section 4C(1); “remuneration regulations” has the meaning given by section 4A(2); “safe working declaration” has the meaning given by section 4G(1); “safe working regulations” has the meaning given by section 4E(6);’. (8) In the definition of ‘UK work’, for ‘has the meaning given by section 4(10)’ substitute ‘means work which is carried out in the United Kingdom or its territorial waters’. Amendment of title of the Act 24 (1) The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 may be cited as the Seafarers (Wages and Working Conditions) Act 2023. (2) For the words ‘Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023’ wherever they occur in any enactment substitute ‘Seafarers (Wages and Working Conditions) Act 2023’.”— (Justin Madders.) This schedule amends the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 to give the Secretary of State power to make regulations specifying conditions relating to the wages and working conditions of seafarers working on ships providing services currently covered by that Act. Those conditions are enforceable in the same way as existing provisions of that Act. Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill. Clause 113 Power to make consequential amendments Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Artificial Intelligence Opportunities Action Plan · Hansard source

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  Over the summer, the UK Labour Government cancelled £1.3 billion-worth of investment in tech and AI projects, including £800 million for the next-generation exascale supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh. The UK Government described the project as making “little strategic sense”, yet today they have pledged to turbocharge AI, including through plans to build a brand-new—wait for it—supercomputer. There is to be new investment; given that the University of Edinburgh has been at the centre of research and development of AI for more than 60 years, will the new supercomputer be located in Edinburgh?

• 13 Jan 2025 · Sudan: US Determination of Genocide · Hansard source

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  We all remember the appalling comments of the Foreign Secretary in October when he said that genocide is a legal term, which “must be determined by international courts”, which is appropriate only “when millions of people lost their lives”. —[ Official Report , 28 October 2024; Vol. 755, c. 556.] The special adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the prevention of genocide has said that the situation today in Sudan “bears all the marks of risk of genocide”. The US Secretary of State has determined that the RSF and its aligned militias have committed genocide. In the UK, Protection Approaches’ director said that “the people of Sudan face unimaginable precarity under a triple threat of war, genocide and famine.” Why is it that time after time in this House we are so reticent about using the word “genocide” when it is all around us and the evidence is there for us to see? Does the Minister stand by the Foreign Secretary’s assessment that it is only for international courts to make the assessment that millions must die before the term genocide can be used? Does she believe that the US Secretary of State’s use of the term “genocide” undermines its seriousness?