Retained EU Law Bill – Public Services Conference emphasises continued opposition

Prospect’s Public Services Sector reaffirmed the union’s opposition to the Retained EU Law Bill, passing a series of motions at its conference in Nottingham.

Motions moved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Department of Health and Social Care, and Environment Agency branches were all agreed by delegates.

The HSE branch argued that the Bill will make it more difficult for HSE staff to make things better for the workforce. Delegates from the Department of Health and Social Care branch pointed out how much regulation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reliant on retained EU law.

Delegates from the Environment Agency highlighted the positive role that members working in regulators have had for over a hundred years in crafting regulations that improve our environment. They pointed out that this upheaval in regulation was coming on top of more than a decade of operational funding cuts to our regulators alongside huge real terms pay cuts for staff  all of which was undermining the ability of government to deliver on the public’s priorities.

Deputy General Secretary Garry Graham responded, emphasising that while there had been recent changes to the legislation “we are not out of the woods yet” and said that Prospect would be keeping a close eye on developments as the union continues to campaign against the Bill.