ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

That this House recognises the outstanding 200 year history of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and its consistent promotion of excellence in gardening and horticulture; further recognises that the Society's charitable purpose is the `encouragement and improvement of the science, art and practice of horticulture in all its branches'; but is concerned at reports that the Society's present management is seeking to cut the workforce substantially without presenting a sustainable case for doing so and has already ended the RHS pension scheme and closed the employees' canteen at Wisley; is further concerned that employees have been told that any refusal to accept new and inferior terms and conditions will be met with loss of employment; and calls on the RHS to recognise that it has a superb and dedicated workforce which should be treated decently and consulted properly.