HC Deb 13 March 1963 vol 673 cc1337-8
17. Mr. A. Roberts

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to ensure that private firms provide special funds for financial assistance to redundant employees.

Mr. Hare

Methods of improving arrangements for dealing with redundancy are being studied by my Ministry and by the employers, nationalised industries and trade unions on my National Joint Advisory Council. The subject will be discussed at the next meeting of the Council in April. At this stage I do not want to prejudge the best ways of handling this problem.

Mr. Roberts

Does not the Minister appreciate that it is when an industry is enjoying good times that money should be put away to meet future redundancy? Is he aware that many industries which are making a profit are prepared to do this and to dissociate the funds from their own companies?

Mr. Hare

As I have told the hon. Member, I am studying this problem. It is a very big one. There are all sorts of views upon it and I want to find the answers. I hope that I shall have considerable assistance from both sides in industry in the deliberations on which I have embarked.

Mr. Webster

Are not severance payments by the individual firms concerned the most appropriate method of dealing with the problem?

Mr. Hare

Not necessarily. There is the obvious disadvantage that smaller firms in particular which are in financial difficulty will not have the necessary money. That is exactly one of the aspects which must be considered.

Mr. Marsh

In recognising all the difficulties, may I ask whether there is any reason why at least all Government Departments cannot make a start in providing redundancy agreements for their own employees? Whatever the problems for the private employer, at least the Government could surely give a lead.

Mr. Hare

The nationalised industries give the very sort of lead that the hon. Member has in mind.

Mr. Gunter

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been under consideration for a very long time? In view of its urgency, will he expedite the discussions which he is having with both sides of industry on this matter and give us a report and let us know what he is doing as quickly as possible?

Mr. Hare

As the hon. Member knows, I am not very good at making promises. He also knows, however, that I am fairly impatient in these matters. [Interruption.] That is not true. I think I have carried out every promise which I have given as Minister of Labour. I assure the hon. Member that I shall not delay unnecessarily.

Mr. Roberts

Will the Minister be prepared to accept information from me?

Mr. Hare

I am always prepared to accept information.