Trades Union Congress: Levelling Up

Lord Sikka Excerpts
Wednesday 29th June 2022

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Callanan Portrait Lord Callanan (Con)
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Because the responsibility for sitting down belongs to the employers—in this case, Network Rail and the train operating companies—and the trade unions. My understanding from listening to Network Rail is that it has set out a very positive agenda. At the end of the day, the taxpayer supported the railways to the tune of £16 billion over the last few years: that is £160,000 for every rail employee in this country. The taxpayer has been very generous; it is about time the unions reciprocated.

Lord Sikka Portrait Lord Sikka (Lab)
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My Lords, last week the Chancellor met with oil and gas company directors to hear their concerns about energy policy. With that in mind, will the Minister explain why the Transport Secretary has not met the RMT? Which law prevents him doing so?