Breakfast Forum newsletter – February 2010
Three parliamentary candidates for Question Time
Welcome back. To herald the forthcoming general election, our first Breakfast Forum of the decade on Friday 12 March will give members and newcomers a unique opportunity to meet our three parliamentary candidates and ask them what their party will do for employment, should they get elected.
Damian Collins, Conservative, Lynne Beaumont, Lib Dem and Donald Worsley, Labour, have all agreed to submit to a spot of Question Time grilling from you, chaired by Tony Bertin in the role of David Dimbleby.
As usual the event is free, and will take place at the Rose and Crown, Elham, from 8 to 9.30am. If you are interested in attending this forum, please contact anne@employment-relations.co.uk, tel: 01303 840001.
Setting the scene
The Department for Employment and Learning is one of the most important ministries in times of global recession. Tony Bertin will set the scene for us by briefly reviewing the last 12 years of employment law under Labour, and asking how much is going to change after the election.
The questions
We would be grateful if you could send us some of your questions in advance of the Forum. Here are some suggestions that you may wish our panel to address:
- UK unemployment - If you were in power what would you do to put the UK back to work?
- Employment law - what do the candidates think were the great employment law achievements and failures of the Blair and Brown years?
- If you were employment minister what would be in your portfolio?
- Graduate unemployment – The graduates of 2009 – saddled with student debt and described as a lost generation, what hope can you offer them?
- Education and training -
- What is your position on the introduction of tuition fees?
- Where do you stand on university funding and expansion?
- According to BIS we now have the highest number of high level qualified apprenticeships. Is this a success and should we build on it?
- Pupils failed by “shameful” education system, says Richard Lambert of the CBI in a withering attack. Is it your view?
- Or do you think training standards have improved under Labour?
We anticipate great interest in this special Breakfast Forum and recommend that you book your place early. On this occasion we will open the Forum to allow for up to 30 members to attend.
The usual cooked / continental breakfast will be replaced with a buffet on arrival with a choice of bacon / sausage / fried egg roll and coffee.
TUPE
Our February Breakfast Forum had to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. This important topic in a recession will now be discussed on Friday 14 May.
