Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I am impressed with what the Minister of State said. He left out one very popular type of communication, known as the "huddle meeting", whereby people meet in huddles. It is marvellous way of communicating with colleagues in a company. It has had great success throughout the world. Wal-Mart, one of the biggest companies in the world, uses the huddle as a system of two way communication in Britain.

The aim of the legislation is exactly right. I would have preferred to strengthened it with the words I suggested, "to be informed and consulted through their representatives (as defined under this Act)" instead of using the phrase "collective representation". As long as it is left open to include direct communication rather than limited to a requirement to appoint and deal with a representative, the employee representatives can deal directly with the employer. It is important not to push this in a direction that forces them to do it through somebody else.