§ Mr. Lathamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the occasions and dates when he or any of his departmental colleagues have met official representatives of the Trades Union Congress at a formal meeting to discuss policy issues, excluding meetings with departmental unions about Whitley conditions; and whether there has been any occasion when he has refused to meet a Trades Union Congress deputation after the congress has officially requested one.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweOn no occasion have I or other Treasury Ministers refused a formal request for a meeting with official representatives of the TUC.
I meet official TUC representatives regularly at the monthly meeting of the National Economic Development Council. I and other Treasury Ministers have also held or attended formal meetings with TUC representatives on the following occasions over the last year:
Chancellor 26 July 1979 Meeting with the TUC economic committee 29 October 1979 Prime Minister's Meeting with the Welsh TUC 31 January 1980 Meeting with a special delegation of the TUC nationalised industries committee to discuss problems in the steel industry. Chief Secretary 21 May 1980 Secretary of State for the Environment's meeting with the TUC local government committee.