Whole Day Download the Hansard

Tuesday Volume 628 12 September 2017 No. 26 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 12 September 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 617 12 SEPTEMBER 2017 618 Mr Speaker: We await the hon. Lady’s oration on that House of Commons occasion with eager anticipation. Tuesday 12 September 2017 Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab): The Minister’sresponse is simply not good enough. We have waited for report after report, and these carbon budgets have been delayed The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock time and again. I know that we have had an unnecessary and uncosted election, but even the United Nations is PRAYERS saying that our air is not clean. It is time that the Government took this seriously, acted and told the House the exact figures. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Claire Perry: I think the hon. Gentleman is showing BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS the effect of our late sitting hours with his grumpiness. He should be celebrating the fact that Britain has led the world in decarbonising our economy, while growing MIDDLE LEVEL BILL the economy at a greater rate than any other G7 country. Motion made, If he wants more affirmation, he should read the PwC That the promoters of the Middle Level Bill, which originated report on that. What we have to do now is set out a very in this House in the previous Session on 24 January 2017, may difficult and long-term plan to meet the fourth and fifth have leave to proceed with the Bill in the current Session carbon budgets and to go beyond. As always, that according to the provisions of Standing Order 188B (Revival of Bills).—(The Chairman of Ways and Means.) requires all of us to support this difficult progress right across the economy. I hope that the hon. Gentleman Hon. Members: Object. will have a cup of coffee and cheer up. To be considered on Tuesday 10 October. Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): The Minister is right to say that we have an excellent method of calculating our emissions, but she might have pointed out that Oral Answers to Questions other countries do not, and that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is currently preparing updated guidelines on how best to account for emissions. Will she confirm that, for that vital work to proceed, the UK BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL Government will be one of those who increase their STRATEGY financial contribution to the IPCC to make good the shortfall left by President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris agreement? Does she also agree, now that The Secretary of State was asked— the cost of offshore wind energy has fallen by a half in Carbon Emissions just two years, that those are the easiest emissions to calculate, because they are zero? 1. Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con): What steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of Claire Perry: I hope that the hon. Gentleman will carbon emission measurements. [900784] celebrate the fact that we entirely agree and have committed to increasing our contribution to the funding of that The Minister of State, Department for Business, Energy agency, directly as a result of the pull-out of the USA and Industrial Strategy (Claire Perry): The UK’s from the Paris agreement—although technically it cannot measurement of carbon emissions is considered among withdraw until 2020. the best in the world, with a 97% accuracy rate. Indeed, our inventory of carbon emissions is among the world’s Taylor Review most comprehensive, covering all sectors of the economy. However, we are always looking to improve our accuracy 2. Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab): To ask in this area, and that work is guided by the National the Secretary of State what progress he has made on Inventory Steering Committee, which meets twice a assessing the recommendations of the Taylor review of year. modern working practices. [900785] Sir Desmond Swayne: Excellent! Are we on track to The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, meet our fourth carbon budget from 2023 to 2027? Energy and Industrial Strategy (Margot James): We welcome, accept and agree with Matthew Taylor’sambition Claire Perry: I hope that my right hon. Friend will that all work in the UK should be fair and decent, with also consider excellent the fact that we overachieved realistic scope for development and fulfilment. The against our first carbon budget to 2012 and that we are report is comprehensive and detailed. We will give it the on track to over-achieve by 5% and 4% respectively careful consideration it deserves, and we will respond in against our second and third carbon budgets. However, full later this year. I am afraid that he is being his usual mischievous self in asking about the fourth carbon budget, which is something Jeff Smith: Taylor agreed that we needed to ensure that I shall be talking more about when we launch our that the self-employed were genuinely self-employed clean growth strategy, so he will have to be patient just a and to strengthen their rights. A Labour Government little bit longer. would shift the burden of proof, so that the law would 619 Oral Answers 12 SEPTEMBER 2017 Oral Answers 620 assume that a worker was an employee unless the employer standards and boost earning power, so that everyone in could prove otherwise. We would set up a dedicated our country can share the benefits of our economic commission to modernise the law on employment status. success. Why cannot this Government commit to real action like that? Jessica Morden: With average weekly real earnings lower than they were in 2007 and with the Institute for Margot James: Much of what the hon. Gentleman Fiscal Studies saying that the flatlining of real wages is refers to is covered by Matthew Taylor in his report, and unprecedented since at least the end of the second one of his recommendations that we will be following world war, does the Minister accept that Britain needs a up with interest is that all workers should be informed pay rise? What are Ministers doing to tackle this? of their status in writing by their employer before they start their work. Margot James: That is one of the reasons why the Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Has my hon. Government have introduced the national living wage, Friend looked at the working practices of the John as a means of boosting the earning power of people at Lewis Partnership—with which I no longer have any the lower end of the pay scale. I acknowledge that connection whatever—and seen the way in which it has average earnings have been static over the past year, but people on its boards of management? Does she not it is important to recognise that people on the national believe that this is an important way to achieve worker minimum wage were given a 4% pay rise in April this involvement? year, and 1.3 million of those people have been taken out of paying income tax altogether. Margot James: I thank my hon. Friend for his commendation of the John Lewis Partnership, with Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con): Does the Minister which I concur. It is, indeed, a very good employer, but agree that this Government have done more than any it is not alone: many other large companies engage with other to raise the wages of the lower paid in our society, their employees in much the same way. including an average £1,000 pay rise per worker? Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab): Will the Minister join me in welcoming the Supreme Court’s ruling that Margot James: I have to agree with my hon. Friend, employment tribunal fees for workers are illegal? Will who makes a very good point. Indeed, the rise in she now accept that it is the Government’s responsibility national minimum wage to which I referred in my to end the use of bogus self-employment by companies earlier answer is the best pay rise for low-paid people in that seek to avoid paying national insurance and giving this country for 20 years. workers the rights that they deserve? Will she commit to introducing the necessary legislative changes in this Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): It is almost Parliament to give workers the rights that they need and comical; we would not even have a minimum wage if it to ensure that taxpayers get the tax revenue and national were not for Labour Members. The Minister spoke insurance that they deserve? about the Government’s industrial strategy, which she thinks will help to give people a pay rise, but that Margot James: Indeed, what the hon. Lady refers to strategy is absolutely at odds with the current Brexit as bogus self-employment is one of the reasons why the strategy. Will the Department have a word with the rest Prime Minister appointed Matthew Taylor to review of the Government and commit to keeping our country employment protection in the context of the modern in the single market? economy. She raises some good points, and I trust her Committee will be investigating them. My Department will co-operate fully. Margot James: I remind the hon. Lady that this Government’s policy is to be outward-facing and achieve David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP): As well as the the best trade deal possible with the European Union, whole issue around modern working practices, what but we have to bear in mind the concerns of my constituents more can the Government do to incorporate productivity and hers about immigration.

Load more