Speeches by Bance.

“From talking to union members following the ballot, when it became clear quite how close GMB had come, my understanding is that the window for challenging the ballot result was basically closed to GMB, because the law said that it had to go in within 24 hours of the ballot closing. I think, from one of the background p…”

“I just want to reflect on the conversation we have had. This inquiry is about the Employment Rights Bill and what it will and will not cover. I would appreciate your closing thoughts on that. For me, it feels as though we might need some sort of strengthened role for the CAC to ensure that there are better protections …”

“This is a question about penalties. I may have this wrong, but I seem to recall that P&O priced in the cost of losing the employment tribunals in the offers that they made to their workers, thereby making an absolute mockery of UK law. Colleagues are seeking to ensure that that sort of thing does not happen. I wanted t…”

“Twenty-seven per cent of working-age people in Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley rely on universal credit. I welcome the fair repayment rate announced in the Budget, but a major reason for benefit debt is the design flaw in universal credit, which means that claimants must wait five weeks for their first payment. Will the…”

“5. What plans she has to review universal credit.”

“If the Government can unilaterally create exemptions from the SELC, what is there to stop this Government and future Governments applying what appears to be some sort of business security exemption in applying the criteria in future? Given that we are such close allies with the other partners in the F-35 programme that…”

“Can you tell me what is the legal basis for the exemption of components for the F-35 programme, please?”

“Is this the first time it has been used?”

“I thank the Justice Secretary for that answer. In common with many Members of the House, I have heard horrific stories of perpetrators breaching orders to which they are subject, giving them further opportunity to terrorise, injure, or in some cases kill women protected by those orders—may Harshita Brella and so many o…”

“T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.”

“The plan for change is clear. This Government will restore order to the asylum and immigration system, clear the asylum backlog, end the use of hotels, increase returns and cut small boat crossings. Does the Minister agree that this plan stands in stark contrast to the open borders policy that the Conservative party su…”

“I wish to associate myself with the comments that have been made about the scourge of illegal motorbikes. They are a particular scourge in communities across Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley. One of my favourite pledges in the Labour party’s manifesto was the pledge to seize those bikes without notice and crush them with…”

“I draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a member of Unite the union. I thank the Secretary of State for coming to the House on such a difficult day for the car industry, and all our thoughts are with the workers in Luton today. I thank him for the work he is doing in engaging wit…”

“Yes, if workers want that. In a number of large companies operating in this country, workers want trade union representation and have fought hard with the deck of cards stacked against them. What will you do as Secretary of State to ensure that workers can be recognised by the union of their choice and that the unlevel…”

“The Green Paper said that past industrial strategies have been held back by weak co-ordination and delivery. How are you going to avoid that happening again? I appreciated your mention of devolution in the last answer. I would particularly add that this Committee has a heavy preponderance of west midlands MPs, who are …”

“We are all looking forward to the steel strategy in the spring, but in the meantime the Government could have done more to improve the business environment for the steel industry, such as by uplifting the electricity network charging compensation from 60% to 90%, as recommended by UK Steel. Of course, we had the disapp…”

“On the point about co-ordination, you would expect me to say this as a champion of manufacturing and of automotive, but for months and years we have been hearing the problems that our motor manufacturers are having with the electric vehicle mandate. Is there going to be change on that soon? I certainly hope so.”

“It was about co-ordination.”

“Secretary of State, it is nice to see you. The Labour party was elected on a pro-worker, pro-business platform. Over the last 14 years, we have seen enormous wage stagnation, the explosion of insecure work and a real sense that too many of the jobs in our economy are not of a good enough quality. How is the pro-worker …”

“One of the key things that many workers want to see is the wage rises that they have been waiting so long for, but the OBR is forecasting 0% real wage growth over 2026-27. What are you going to do in your Department to make sure that wages start growing again?”