Mike Ashley answers questions on Sports Direct working conditions
3 June 2016
The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee holds an evidence session examining the working practices at Sports Direct with owner Mike Ashley, representatives from Unite Union, Transline Group and The Best Connection Group.
- Watch Parliament TV: Working practices at Sports Direct
- Inquiry: Working practices at Sports Direct
- Business, Innovation and Skills Committee
Witnesses
Tuesday 7 June 2016, Room 6, Palace of Westminster
At 10.00am
- Steven Turner, Assistant General Secretary, Unite Union
- Luke Primarolo, Regional Officer, Unite Union
At 10.30am
- Chris Birkby, Managing Director, Transline Group
- Jennifer Hardy, Finance Director, Transline Group
- Andy Sweeney, CEO, The Best Connection Group Ltd
At 11am
- Mike Ashley, Owner, Sports Direct
- Keith Bishop, Keith Bishop Associates
Purpose of the session
- Agency worker status at Shirebrook;
- Terms and conditions of workers at Sports Direct;
- Health and safety issues;
- Review of Sports Direct's contracts with agency workers.
Chair's comment:
BIS Committee Chair Iain Wright MP said:
"I'm pleased that Mr Ashley has finally agreed to give evidence at our hearing on Tuesday, in accordance with the Parliamentary summons issued by the BIS Committee in March.
Mr Ashley announced in December he would personally oversee a review of working practices at the Shirebrook warehouse in response to serious allegations made and we look forward to Mr Ashley answering our questions, including in response to these allegations and the progress of his review.
As a Committee, we want to get a sense of the genuine and balanced picture at Sports Direct and establish whether there are issues for the wider economy which need further examination, such as the status and rights of agency workers."
Further information
Image: PA