Work and Families Bill

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will let me make my own speech and get to those points when I can. We have had a great deal of dialogue on the Bill. It is not a case of pulling something out of thin air. We consulted a range of stakeholders, including employers, both large and small. Only my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West mentioned the role of trade unions. It is important that we have full buy-in from both sides of industry in ensuring that the Bill’s contents are supported. The right hon. Member for Maidenhead broadly welcomed the Bill, as did the hon. Member for Epping Forest. However, actions speak louder than words. The hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) said that had there been a Conservative Government in 1997, they would have eventually got around to measures on work and families.