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Holyrood devolution committee wants Trade Union Bill blocked Holyrood devolution committee wants Trade Union Bill blocked
(about 11 hours later)
Scotland should be exempted from the scope of Westminster's Trade Union Bill, MSPs on Holyrood's devolution committee have ruled.Scotland should be exempted from the scope of Westminster's Trade Union Bill, MSPs on Holyrood's devolution committee have ruled.
The committee said there was "widespread opposition" to the bill and called on the UK government to exclude Scotland from its reach.The committee said there was "widespread opposition" to the bill and called on the UK government to exclude Scotland from its reach.
SNP and Labour members have voiced strong concerns about the bill and made efforts to have it blocked.SNP and Labour members have voiced strong concerns about the bill and made efforts to have it blocked.
The committee's report will be debated in the chamber later this month. A UK government spokesman said the bill was "clearly a reserved matter".
He added: "People right across the UK have the right to know that the services on which they and their families rely will not be disrupted at short notice by strikes backed by only a small proportion of union members."
The Westminster bill would curb the powers of trade unions and make it more difficult for them to call strikes.The Westminster bill would curb the powers of trade unions and make it more difficult for them to call strikes.
MSPs have made a series of attempts to block the bill north of the border, with SNP minister Roseanna Cunningham failing in a bid to lodge a special motion on the matter and Labour's James Kelly ejected from the chamber while protesting against the presiding officer rejecting that motion.MSPs have made a series of attempts to block the bill north of the border, with SNP minister Roseanna Cunningham failing in a bid to lodge a special motion on the matter and Labour's James Kelly ejected from the chamber while protesting against the presiding officer rejecting that motion.
The Scottish Conservatives say the bill is "clearly" a matter reserved to Westminster, and Tory MSP Alex Johnstone dissented from the committee's conclusions and recommendations. The Scottish Conservatives say the bill was "clearly" a matter reserved to Westminster, and Tory MSP Alex Johnstone dissented from the committee's conclusions and recommendations.
The devolution and further powers committee took evidence on the potential impact of the bill in Scotland, and have now submitted their report to MSPs.The devolution and further powers committee took evidence on the potential impact of the bill in Scotland, and have now submitted their report to MSPs.
Members said that if the UK government was not willing to amend the bill, the Scottish government should use "any means available" to encourage the House of Lords to intervene.Members said that if the UK government was not willing to amend the bill, the Scottish government should use "any means available" to encourage the House of Lords to intervene.
They also said that if the bill was not amended, extra regulation-making powers should be given to Scottish ministers to rule on matters relating directly to public services in Scotland.They also said that if the bill was not amended, extra regulation-making powers should be given to Scottish ministers to rule on matters relating directly to public services in Scotland.
'Widespread opposition''Widespread opposition'
Committee convener Bruce Crawford said there was "widespread opposition" to the legislation in Scotland.Committee convener Bruce Crawford said there was "widespread opposition" to the legislation in Scotland.
He said: "We recognise the UK government wishes to pass this bill despite there being no real evidence to support its position.He said: "We recognise the UK government wishes to pass this bill despite there being no real evidence to support its position.
"It is unlikely, therefore, to heed our call to halt the legislative process in the UK parliament so that the bill does not become law in any part of the UK."It is unlikely, therefore, to heed our call to halt the legislative process in the UK parliament so that the bill does not become law in any part of the UK.
"That being the case, the committee recommends the UK government removes Scotland from the territorial extent of the bill, through amendments in the House of Lords at report stage."That being the case, the committee recommends the UK government removes Scotland from the territorial extent of the bill, through amendments in the House of Lords at report stage.
"Without these amendments, Jeremy Hunt will in practice have regulation-making power over industrial relations in the NHS in Scotland.""Without these amendments, Jeremy Hunt will in practice have regulation-making power over industrial relations in the NHS in Scotland."