§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints he has received each year since 1979 from firms and employees on the pre-entry closed shop.
§ Mr. NichollsMinisters and officials in the Department of Employment continue to receive complaints from a variety of sources which describe difficulties experienced as a result of the operation of closed shop arrangements, involving pre-entry closed shops. However, no record is maintained of the number of such complaints received each year and, in any case, it is not always clear whether a complaint relates to pre-entry or post-entry arrangements. In addition, it would not be possible to establish precisely which complaints were made by firms and employees.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints the commissioner for trade union rights has received(a) from local authority employees, (b) from National Health Service employees and (c) from any employee working in the public sector against their union on the closed shop.
§ Mr. NichollsI have been advised by the commissioner for trade union members that precise figures concerning the number of complaints by type of employer are not available as complaints relate to the trade union not the employer, who is often not involved or identified. Complaints in relation to the closed shop are outside the scope of the commissioner's assistance.