Thank you, Llywydd, and I move this amendment in the name of Darren Millar. It is clear that the motion presented by Plaid Cymru seems to have completely misrepresented the UK Government's policy on minimum service levels by claiming that it is an attempt by the UK Government to gain sufficient coercive power to curtail both trade union and worker ability to engage in lawful industrial action, when this is clearly so not the case and not the purpose of the legislation. But then again, Llywydd, Plaid Cymru members do have their social media channels to think about.

The Conservatives believe wholeheartedly that everyone should have the right to strike, but when it comes to the NHS and to the fire and rescue service, it is not right that those who are in desperate need of emergency care cannot get an ambulance or rescue service because of strike action. The measures proposed in the minimum service levels Bill are designed to protect lives and ensure that people who face an imminent threat to life or limb have quick access to care and treatment. And it is mind-boggling to me how anyone could not want such care to be received. At present, the minimum service levels for life and limb protection are individually negotiated by various services across the country, which leads to considerable inconsistency. In Wales, there is likely to be a different minimum service to England and Scotland, and legislating a pre-agreed national minimum level across the entire United Kingdom will help to improve consistency. 

Another reason, as many in this Chamber will very well know, is that current legislation on striking services does not require people to say whether or not they intend to strike, which creates situations where people organising rotas have no knowledge of who will actually be available for work, making it very difficult to plan even minimum services for shifts, and it's vital that, for health, fire and rescue, transport and education, these sectors are able to plan. 

In my mind, there is nothing wrong with introducing legislation that provides minimum service levels during strikes so that the most vulnerable—those who are in life-threatening danger—have the service that they need. The International Labour Organization, which the TUC subscribes to, recommends appropriate minimum service levels in both vital and non-vital services, and similar minimum service legislation is already commonplace in several European countries, such as France, Germany and Italy.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published its impact assessment of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill and drew a broadly favourable picture of this legislation—