HC Deb 11 June 1958 vol 589 cc210-1
51. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make an approach to the Trades Union Council to invite that body to recommend to trade unions generally that their rule books should be modified so that strike action and its discontinuance be decided by a secret ballot of members in each instance.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on 10th April, 1957, of which I am sending him a copy.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a strong body of opinion which thinks that when strike action or its continuance is being considered the men are fearful to declare themselves by a show of hands, and that it would be in the national interest if these questions of strikes were decided by a secret ballot? Has not the time arrived for my right hon. Friend to consider having a talk with the T.U.C. on this matter?

Mr. Macleod

This is a very difficult problem. It is quite true that a considerable body of opinion thinks as my hon. Friend does. I would merely say that from what study I have given to this matter—and I have studied it over a long period—I do not believe that a secret ballot would in any way reduce the incidence of strikes. In particular, it would have practically no impact upon the unofficial strikes which are the present main difficulty.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will not the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that those who have experience in industrial affairs on both sides of industry and in this House are not all of the view held by some Government supporters that a secret ballot would lead to greater industrial peace, and that it might have quite the reverse effect?

Mr. Macleod

There is a very considerable body of opinion on both sides. I have expressed my own opinion and that of the Government.

Sir S. Summers

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind that there is a very considerable volume of opinion on this side of the House which shares his view on this subject?

Mr. Lee

Can the right hon. Gentleman estimate how long a strike might drag on if there had to be a secret ballot on the issue of its continuance?