Private Equity (Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment) Bill

That is exactly the point. Anyone using common sense can see that that is the case. I have talked to lots of lawyers, and gone round in circuitous arguments, but to me the matter is straightforward. All companies should have the same protections, as should all workers. It is a question of fairness and of balance, and that is what I want to achieve. As I was about to explain to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans), I have not just discussed matters with the Department, but I thank the Minister for the time and effort that he has put into talking to me about the Bill. I also thank the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, the BVCA. I have met people there; the meetings were confidential, so I will not divulge what was said, but some of the things that they told me were very helpful. In fact, they identified straight away one area where I had gone beyond TUPE, and was bringing in something new. I had not realised initially that there was something concerning an injunction in my Bill. I would want to take that out; I do not want any extra rights for the people in question. I want existing rights to apply to all workers—not something new, but something that already exists.