§ 5. Mr. Cleaverasked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to ensure that employees should not be debarred, under their terms of employment, from wearing clothes which have religious significance for them.
§ 14. Sir M. Lindsayasked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation 574 to ensure that employees shall not be debarred by their terms of employment from wearing clothes which have religious significance for them.
§ Mr. HareI do not think legislation would be appropriate. I am sure it is better that occasional difficulties such as this which arise should be settled by common sense and understanding between the parties concerned.
§ Mr. CleaverIn view of the fact that turban-wearing Sikhs fought alongside our men with great gallantry during the last war, during which 36,000 were killed and 58,000 wounded, would not my right hon. Friend consider it rather a pity to prevent Sikhs wearing turbans when issuing tickets on buses?
§ Mr. HareI think this is a matter which is better settled by negotiation and discussion with the parties concerned. If we were to get into legislation defining varieties of religious dress, religious holidays and so on, we should be getting into a lot of trouble.