GORDON Prentice is to back a bill to improve conditions for agency workers.

The Pendle MP will be backing a private members' bill to give them equal treatment with permanent staff.

He said: "There are well over a million agency workers in the UK today.

"For many, agency working means lower pay and denial of sick, holiday and overtime pay.

" In many areas such as construction, manufacturing and food industries there are concerns that employers are using agency working to worsen workers' terms and conditions.

"That in turn is having a damaging effect on social cohesion."