JARVIS AND RAIL ENGINEERING JOBS

That this House notes that on 31 March 2010 1,200 Jarvis rail workers were sacked after the company went into administration and Network Rail refused to back a rescue plan; is appalled that Jarvis workers have not received outstanding wages or redundancy pay; considers it a scandal that Network Rail is now in exclusive negotiations to transfer to other companies all work undertaken by over a thousand Jarvis employees who were made redundant; is concerned that the dismissal of these skilled and experienced rail engineers will have serious consequences for rail services in this country, impacting upon the safety of the railway and inhibiting future capacity for major infrastructure projects such as high speed rail; welcomes the agreement to transfer up to 350 jobs to Babcock Rail; believes that natural justice demands Network Rail must ensure that all former Jarvis employees are transferred to new contractors under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) legislation; and urges the Government to ensure that Network Rail works constructively with trades unions, providing all necessary information to them to assist in securing these workers' future employment.