WATFORD MP Claire Ward was in the House of Commons last week to back the Employee Share Schemes Bill, a private member's bill introduced by Mark Lazarowicz, the MP for Edinburgh North and Leith.
The bill is deigned to make it easier for commonly owners to transfer ownership of the whole or part of their business into a trust for the benefit of staff.
It also aims to increase the participation of staff in the decision-making process in this sort of firm.
Ms Ward said: "Watford's branch of John Lewis is a fine example of how a firm owned by its staff can operate and succeed. People that work at John Lewis are not just employees, they are, each of them, full partners in the firm."
The bill was given a broad welcome from all sides in the Commons and now goes to a committee where it is hoped that minor points such as how the scheme could give greater help to part time staff will be looked at.
Ms Ward added: "It is only on rare occasions that a private member's bill passes in to law.
"However, because of the broad support that this measure has received, I have my fingers crossed that this will do so."
January 24, 2002 12:05
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