⚖️ Employment Rights Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

• The Employment Rights Bill’s fourteenth sitting focused on Schedule 3, concerning the pay and conditions of school support staff in England.

• Greg Smith proposed amendment 168 to limit the school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB) to creating a framework rather than imposing direct terms, maintaining flexibility for academy staff.

• The amendment was debated, with Conservative members arguing for local flexibility and against a centralized approach. They expressed concerns that the Bill undermines academy freedoms.

• Labour members and the Minister, Justin Madders, opposed the amendment, emphasizing the need for a baseline for terms and conditions to improve pay and conditions, especially for those supporting special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• A vote was held on the amendment, which was defeated with 3 votes in favor and 12 against.

• Additional amendments (65 to 71) were discussed and passed, making minor drafting corrections to the Bill, such as removing the word “education” when referring to local authorities.

• Further amendments (123 and 124) were proposed to require impact assessments on the costs of the SSSNB but were withdrawn after debate, with the Minister stating these were unnecessary as assessments were already planned.

• Clauses 29 to 44 were discussed, establishing a negotiating body for adult social care workers, aiming to address low pay and poor retention in the sector.

• Concerns were raised about the retrospective effects of regulations within these clauses, with some members wary of the impact on small businesses, especially not-for-profit providers.

• Members emphasized the importance of valuing and improving conditions for social care workers, with personal stories highlighting the impact of staff turnover on care recipients.

• The session concluded with holiday wishes to all involved, acknowledging the hard work of civil servants, Clerks, and other parliamentary staff.

The session displayed a moderate level of disagreement, reflected primarily through the debates over the amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, particularly concerning the remit and impact of the school support staff and adult social care negotiating bodies. The disagreements were clear, yet they were expressed in a professional and structured manner. Key points of contention included the potential impact of the Bill on academy freedoms and the establishment of negotiating bodies, with opposition members voicing concerns over centralization and the ideological versus evidence-based nature of the proposed policies. Government members defended the necessity of these bodies based on existing evidence and the need to address issues of pay and conditions in both sectors. However, the session also saw moments of consensus, such as when amendments were discussed and some were withdrawn after responses from the government. The disagreements were significant enough to be put to a vote, with divisions recorded on amendment 168 and the schedule, indicating a clear division of opinion. Nevertheless, the overall tone was respectful, and the debates were conducted within the bounds of parliamentary procedure.