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| Call for construction industry 'blacklist' inquiry | Call for construction industry 'blacklist' inquiry |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs will hear calls later for a full inquiry into claims of the blacklisting of workers on major public projects such as Crossrail and the Olympics. | MPs will hear calls later for a full inquiry into claims of the blacklisting of workers on major public projects such as Crossrail and the Olympics. |
| The move follows disclosures about a database of 3,000 names used to vet workers in the construction sector for more than 15 years. | The move follows disclosures about a database of 3,000 names used to vet workers in the construction sector for more than 15 years. |
| Labour will hold a Commons debate on the allegations. | Labour will hold a Commons debate on the allegations. |
| The existence of the list was exposed by a raid by the Information Commissioner's Office in 2009. | The existence of the list was exposed by a raid by the Information Commissioner's Office in 2009. |
| The raid, on an organisation called the Consulting Association, confirmed that construction companies had been checking potential employees against a blacklist. | |
| This list included details ranging from employment history to trade union activity and other personal information. Campaigners claimed the list blighted lives by denying people employment. | This list included details ranging from employment history to trade union activity and other personal information. Campaigners claimed the list blighted lives by denying people employment. |
| The vast majority of those blacklisted are still not even aware that information was collated and repeatedly used against them. MPs will hear calls for that to change. | The vast majority of those blacklisted are still not even aware that information was collated and repeatedly used against them. MPs will hear calls for that to change. |
| Labour said the affair was a national scandal, and wants a full investigation into allegations of blacklisting on schemes such as Crossrail and the Olympics. | Labour said the affair was a national scandal, and wants a full investigation into allegations of blacklisting on schemes such as Crossrail and the Olympics. |
| On Tuesday, Cullum McAlpine, a director at construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine, confirmed to MPs that the company had checked workers against the list to protect against "deliberatively disruptive or unlawful" behaviour on sites. | |
| Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: "The Government condemns blacklisting as a totally unacceptable practice. Legislation has been in place since 2010 to prohibit the use of blacklists following an investigation into the Consulting Association by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). | Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: "The Government condemns blacklisting as a totally unacceptable practice. Legislation has been in place since 2010 to prohibit the use of blacklists following an investigation into the Consulting Association by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). |
| "We would strongly urge anyone who feels they have been a victim of blacklisting, or has any information suggesting that this practice is still occurring, to pass any evidence they have to the ICO." | "We would strongly urge anyone who feels they have been a victim of blacklisting, or has any information suggesting that this practice is still occurring, to pass any evidence they have to the ICO." |
| Meanwhile, campaigners will step up calls for the government to release documents relating to the "Shrewsbury 24" at a briefing in Westminster. | Meanwhile, campaigners will step up calls for the government to release documents relating to the "Shrewsbury 24" at a briefing in Westminster. |
| The building workers were arrested for picketing following a national strike and charged under the 1875 Conspiracy Act. | The building workers were arrested for picketing following a national strike and charged under the 1875 Conspiracy Act. |
| Six of them were sent to prison in 1973, including Ricky Tomlinson who later became known as an actor. | Six of them were sent to prison in 1973, including Ricky Tomlinson who later became known as an actor. |
| Campaigners want the Criminal Cases Review Commission to revisit the charges, claiming they were politically motivated. | Campaigners want the Criminal Cases Review Commission to revisit the charges, claiming they were politically motivated. |