Lords Hansard text for 27 Feb 2006 (60227-02)

Olympic Games 2012: Transport

2.45 pm

Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to prevent transport trade unions taking industrial action during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, the Government, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority are committed to working co-operatively with the trade unions, Transport for London and transport operators. Our shared goal is to ensure that new infrastructure is delivered on time and on budget and that networks operate smoothly and effectively.

Lord Bradshaw: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. I wonder whether it has come to his attention that the leader of the RMT trade union has already asked for a special payment for staff not to disrupt the Olympics. Will he comment on the fact that, as the London Underground is a public service, it should be placed under the same restrictions as the police and be bound to go to binding arbitration by ACAS rather than call its members out on strike? Does he believe that they should not go on strike unless 50 per cent of the workforce vote for it, rather than the small proportion of them who are trade union members, in a vote which no doubt will be subject to intimidation?

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, the House will have noticed the noble Lord's illiberal contribution to industrial relations. I disagree with almost everything he said except for the necessity of ensuring that good industrial relations obtain over that period. As for the noble Lord's reference to the opening shot of the general secretary of the RMT, the obvious point is that it was merely a reflection of the fact that at the Sydney Olympics a deal had been reached where there was some extra consideration during the games. I have no doubt that the unions will set out their store of behalf of their members as best they can.

We are six years away from the Olympic Games, and there will be major negotiations with the trade unions well before that time. It is not adding to the common weal in which we all share with regard to the Olympic Games to discuss such issues now.

Lord Hanningfield: My Lords, perhaps I may follow the contribution of the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw. It is not just in six years' time that the people of London will face an Underground strike; they face one this Wednesday. To follow that up—perhaps one could temper it a bit—in the recent RMT ballot regarding this week, 884 members were in favour of a strike, 470 were against, and 1,080 favoured action short of a strike. That is out of a total membership of 5,000. So, 884 out of 5,000 members were dictating that there should be a strike this Wednesday. Surely that does not augur well for what might happen in six

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years' time. Should we do not something about that and ensure that there is a real majority for any strike action, even if the Government still want to allow it? Will the Minister give a further answer to amplify what he has just said?

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, of course I am going to accept advice from the party opposite on how to conduct industrial relations, given the contrast between our figure of only 215,000 days lost in the past year and the number of days lost under previous administrations, which were never less than double that. Our present industrial relations record in days lost is the best since records began. So I do not think that we need lectures on the point. Even if we did and I accepted that the noble Lord was trying to help in the long run, does the House think that it would be valuable to receive such contributions when negotiations are being conducted this very day?

Baroness Gardner of Parkes: My Lords, is the Minister aware of the many thousands of volunteers who took part in Sydney by helping to direct people to transport and so on? In negotiations regarding the Olympics there was never any question of treading on the unions' toes or vice versa. The whole thing created enormous good will, which will be very important in the success of our Olympics here.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, I am grateful for the first constructive voice this afternoon with regard to the games in 2012. The Olympic Games in Sydney involved a huge amount of volunteer work and enjoyed very good industrial relations. All workers contributed to the success of those games. We want to learn from that experience and emulate it where it is good, but we also think that we can effect improvements. However, where the noble Baroness recommends that we examine the record on the contribution of volunteers, I am with her wholeheartedly and so are the Government.

Lord Hamilton of Epsom: My Lords, I am another unconstructive voice. Does the noble Lord have a massive contingency fund to meet what will obviously be enormously increased costs above those originally envisaged?

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, we have devoted very substantial resources to the Olympic Games, as the noble Lord will recognise. We have absolutely no reason to expect that those resources will be insufficient to put on the best games that have been enjoyed in recent times.

Lord Campbell of Alloway: My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that one cannot amend trade union law on the hoof and that it can be done only by primary legislation?

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, I am grateful for the noble Lord's contribution, which has reminded us all that these are delicate, difficult and long-term

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issues. I merely want to emphasise that it is best at present to leave the negotiators to deal with local difficulties while reaching agreements in due course that guarantee the security of the games.

Energy Review

2.53 pm

Lord Ezra asked Her Majesty's Government:

What short-term measures they are taking to secure energy supplies pending the completion of the energy review.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, the Government have been working intensively with Ofgem, the National Grid, industry and key stakeholders over many months on short-term security of supply issues. It remains the case that the National Grid has forecast that under all credible scenarios the market will be able to maintain energy supplies to domestic consumers and to most small businesses and public sector organisations during this winter.

Lord Ezra: My Lords, I note what the Minister has just told us, but, although the Government have launched their consultation document into longer-term energy policy, is it not a fact that the short-term situation is rapidly deteriorating, with soaring prices, consequential increases in fuel poverty, depletion of North Sea oil reserves faster than was expected and numerous market distortions both here and abroad? In those circumstances, should the Government not issue a document that indicates clearly what short-term measures they are taking to secure supplies, to deal with increased fuel poverty, to deal with the problem of market distortions and, in general, to allay public fears, which are very keenly felt during this short-term period?

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, the noble Lord is right to identify that there are short-term problems that will last through the remainder of this winter and into next winter. He will also recognise that the Government have pursued a range of strategies to guarantee that we get through these two difficult winters effectively and that in the longer term we guarantee security and generosity of supply. He has identified a number of issues, varying from those with which the Government can deal immediately—such as communication to consumers on how to get the best deal for the energy that they secure—to changes in the operation of the European market, which have necessitated a direct approach from the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. A wide range of issues is involved but, as I have said to the House on previous occasions, the Government are active in every respect.

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