MPs debate blacklisting in employment
23 January 2013 (updated on 23 January 2013)
MPs debated blacklisting in employment on 23 January 2013 in the House of Commons. The debate was the first of two scheduled on subjects chosen by the Opposition; the second debate was on the private rented sector.
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Chuka Umunna, opened the debate.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Jo Swinson, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Blacklisting
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Blacklisting
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Employment and training
Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry
The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee is currently holding an inquiry into blacklisting in employment.
In 2009, the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the offices of The Consulting Association following allegations of blacklisting. The ICO found that the owner held details on 3,213 construction workers and traded their personal information for profit. Denial of a job for discriminatory reasons is illegal and statutorily prohibited.
Opposition day debates
Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition.
Seventeen days are at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition, the leader of the largest opposition party, to decide which matters are debated. Three days are usually divided between the other opposition parties.
The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.