I’d like to make a few general comments before going into detail on group 4. Plaid Cymru is supportive of this Bill introduced by Labour, but we wish to note that the Blair or Brown Governments didn’t take the opportunitiy to scrap many of those policies introduced by Thatcher—measures that continue to undermine the rights of workers to this day. It’s important that we bear that in mind I think.

In moving to group 4, Plaid Cymru will be voting against these amendments introduced in the name of Janet Finch-Saunders. I was pleased to support a Government amendment during Stage 2 proceedings on this Bill that would ensure that there would be a prohibition on using temporary workers to cover staff during industrial action. Often, agency staff won’t be familiar with the procedures in workplaces, and that raises concerns about safety and the quality of the service provided to the public. Using agency staff to replace people taking part in industrial action can damage the relationship between the employees and the employers, and between the employees and the agency staff as well.

The proposals of the UK Government have been strongly criticised from within the agency sector itself, as we heard from Dawn Bowden, with the head of policy for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation very suspicious of placing temporary and agency workers into difficult industrial relations situations, and advising, indeed, that that wasn’t beneficial to members of the alliance. That’s just one argument for rejecting these amendments.