§ 10. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce legislation to forbid the introduction of the closed shop by local government bodies for their employees.
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend deprecates any coercion of local government employees to join trade unions or associations; but experience shows that local authorities generally show good sense in their approach to this matter, and he does not think that this is a matter for legislation.
§ Dr. JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware that local authorities do not show good sense in all cases and that I can supply him with particulars of an instance when the insistence upon joining a trade union was pursued with great ruthlessness and persecution of an individual who was not a member of the staff of the council in question at the time the resolution was passed? [Interruption.] Secondly, is my hon. Friend aware also that once—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It is quite insufferable that questions and answers should be drowned by shouts.
§ Dr. JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware, secondly, that when this practice occurs, it is by the nature of things apt to be irreversible even if the complexion of the council changes?
§ Mr. CorfieldI agree with my hon. Friend that there are exceptions. Nevertheless, my right hon. Friend takes the view that this is a matter primarily for the pressures of public opinion exercised through the electorate rather than for legislation.