Trade Union Bill (First sitting)

Julie Elliott Excerpts

Tuesday 13th October 2015 Public Bill Committees

[Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab)]

I am a former Community trade union officer, current Community trade union member and chair of the Community parliamentary group.

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

I am a member of the GMB and a former trade union official.

[Jo Stevens (Cardiff Central) (Lab)]

Prior to the election in May, I was a director and partner of Thompsons Solicitors LLP, which is giving evidence to the Committee. I am also the partner of the chief executive of Thompsons, who is giving evidence to the Committee. Clients of my former firm included the Royal College of Midwives, GMB, Unison and Unite, which are giving evidence to the Committee. Finally, I am a member of GMB and of Unison.

--- Later in debate ---

[Julie Elliott]

Q 16 As ever, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward.

Dr Marshall, I want to come back to something you have just said. What evidence are you referring to when you talk about all the indirect days lost? You have referred to that quite considerably in your evidence, but you then said that you looked to see what there is. Do you have any evidence?

You have also talked at length about what your members think. Can you advise the Committee on what surveys or interaction you have had with your members on the Bill and what came out as their top five priorities? Do the features in the Bill figure in that?

Dr Adam Marshall: Thank you for the question. The point that I have been trying to make and will make again is this: I would very much like the Office for National Statistics to begin collecting more data on the indirect impact of industrial action on the wider economy.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 17 So you have no statistics?

Dr Adam Marshall: The point that I made right at the beginning was that I want those statistics to be available. Vis-à-vis member surveys, we have not surveyed on this specific topic.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 18 And the second part of my question about your membership?

Dr Adam Marshall: I said that, vis-à-vis member surveys, we have not surveyed on this particular topic.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 19 To follow that up, you have said at length in all your evidence on this point that you are representing the views of your membership on this, but how can you say that if you have not surveyed members and asked them the question?

Dr Adam Marshall: We have a range of submissions and a range of comments made to us by chamber councils up and down the country. Like other business organisations, we take both formal and informal soundings of our businesses and we have done so on an informal basis.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 20 So this is subjective evidence that you are talking about? You have not specifically had any direct comments on this because you have not asked the question?

Dr Adam Marshall: We have had direct comments to us.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 21 Have you asked the question?

Dr Adam Marshall: Not in a survey format. Not in a quantitative format, but qualitatively, yes.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 22 So this is subjective evidence, with no objective evidence to back up what you are saying?

Dr Adam Marshall: That is your characterisation of it.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 23 Is that correct?

Dr Adam Marshall: I am sure there is evidence.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 24 Where is it?

Dr Adam Marshall: As I said—

[Julie Elliott]

Q 25 It does not exist?

Dr Adam Marshall: As I said, it is evidence that has been gathered through qualitative means and not through hard evidence.

[Julie Elliott]

Q 26 Does it exist to present to the Committee, to write to us about, to show us?

Dr Adam Marshall: I have nothing to present to you in writing at the moment.

[The Chair]

Normally, we would go to the Government and then to Labour, but I do not want to be too formal. If somebody is bursting to ask a really telling supplementary, they can come in. I think Steve Doughty is burning to ask a question.