Employment Bill [HL]

It seems as though the noble Baroness was reading directly from what the Chamber of Shipping has been saying to us and, in effect, neglecting to take account of the tax concessions that it gets. This is an empty threat because the Chamber of Shipping would have to take into account the substantial advantages that it has and whether it would be worth while losing those tax privileges. I do not think it would take such action. I will not give in to threats such as this. The noble Baroness may object to the words ““slave labour”” but that is what it is. How can one justify people doing the same job on the same ship but being paid different rates of pay? I am very pleased that when my noble friend outlined the amendment she said that it should apply to territorial and not inland waters because it would not apply at all if that were the case. This is an anomaly that we should put right. I am sure that my noble friend who is to reply—we are good friends—will see that we are seeking justice in what we are putting forward. We are talking here about UK-registered ships and that is what the reply from the Chamber of Shipping says. We are trying to put right an anomaly that has existed for far too long. Let us get rid of absurd wages that set one person against another; let us put everyone on an equal footing. I hope that my noble friend will give a positive reply to the points that we have made.