Member

I will allude briefly to the two amendments in my name, because I have a feeling that my noble friend Lady Cash will be much more erudite and fluent in her exposition of them. Amendment 219 would reduce the period within which trade unions must provide an opt- out notice to their members after the passing of a political resolution from eight weeks to four. If we genuinely hope to improve this Bill, there should always be the test of whether these things wreck or undermine the nature of this Bill, which, with their election mandate, the Government are entitled to bring forward. The answer to that question is no; on the test of reasonableness and balance, this amendment stands on its own merit, as it would essentially encourage trade unions to come forward with the notice in a timely fashion, and that would not necessarily invalidate the inherent merits of Clause 59.