The union will unveil four policy ideas at a cross-party gathering of MPs on Wednesday 6 November in dining room B of the House of Commons. Speakers include Labour’s Meg Munn who has been involved in work with women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers and Conservative MP Robert Halfon, a Prospect member who has been campaigning for greater engagement between the Conservative party and trade unions.

Prospect’s General Secretary Mike Clancy said: “Prospect has unparalleled expertise on the issues facing women in STEM careers; on the need to improve public procurement processes; on the drain of talent among skilled civil servants and on the need to invest in the low carbon jobs of the future. We want to demonstrate that trade unions have a positive role to play in drawing up sensible policies that can benefit all political parties.”

The pledges that Prospect will be encouraging MPs to sign up to are:

• Women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) “I agree that the government should set up a Minister-led commission, involving Prospect and others, to increase the 13 per cent of women in STEM careers to 30 per cent by 2020.”
• Responsible procurement “I believe in responsible procurement – when awarding public contracts government should consider the number of apprenticeships and graduate traineeships that are created and the quality of working relationships.”
  

• Stop the brain drain of skilled civil servants “I will write to my party leader asking them to work with Prospect to promote an independent review of pay for skilled professionals in the civil service.”

Cut CO2 emissions, support new skills “I will support investment in the skills and infrastructure to make our nations world leaders in low carbon energy, including renewables and new nuclear.”

Background information is available at http://www.prospect.org.uk/prospectpledge