HC Deb 24 July 1969 vol 787 cc2129-30
Q3. Mr. Molloy

asked the Prime Minister what further discussions he intends to have with the Trade Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry concerning industrial relations.

The Prime Minister

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 17th July to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Southall (Mr. Bidwell) and for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).—[Vol. 787, c. 875–6.]

Mr. Molloy

Now that the T.U.C. has decided to intervene in industrial disputes where trade unions are involved, could my right hon. Friend ask the C.B.I. to intervene where disputes are caused by arbitrary managerial action, and, further, does he agree that the mass media, which could contribute to the restoration of industrial harmony by fair reporting, should drop some of their biased attitudes towards trade union disputes?

The Prime Minister

When we met the C.B.I. just over a month ago, my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State and I emphasised the need for the Confederation to take powers to intervene in cases of the kind my hon. Friend has in mind, just as the T.U.C. was taking powers itself to intervene. We encouraged the Confederation also to re-examine the proposals made to it by the T.U.C. for joint fire-fighting services for dealing with unofficial disputes.

As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, that must he a matter for the information media themselves, be they Press or tele- vision. There have in the past, no doubt, been some cases of unfair reporting, but in cases where there has been a dispute which was quite unjustified it has not done any harm that this should be made generally known both nationally and in the area concerned.

Mr. John Page

During his discussions with the C.B.I., will the Prime Minister confirm that the First Secretary's undertaking that no penal clauses will be included in any industrial relations legislation during the lifetime, of the present Government applies equally to companies as to trade unions?

The Prime Minister

In any further discussions with the C.B.I. —these will be conducted mainly by the First Secretary—my right hon. Friend will stand exactly by what she said and what I said to the House in the debate.

Mr. James Hamilton

Would my right hon. Friend agree that since the Government got the T.U.C. to move in the direction in which it is moving it is carrying out a very responsible task? Would he further agree that meetings similar to the one which he had with the T.U.C. should be held with the C.B.I. unilaterally and then collectively with the T.U.C. and the C.B.I. with a view to getting industrial relations on the basis for which we are all hoping?

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend and I met the C.B.I. on, I think, the day after the undertaking was given by the T.U.C. But I think that the whole House would want to see both sides get together without necessarily the intervention of the Government. Useful work has been done by them on a bilateral basis, and the whole T.U.C. document and certain statements by the C.B.I. and the concept of the Commission for Industrial Relations are all based on the two sides of industry getting together on their own to improve negotiating procedures.

Mr. R. Carr

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm the statement made publicly that the legislation which we are promised next Session will contain no penalties?

The Prime Minister

The right hon. Gentleman had better wait to see the legislation, and then we can discuss it in the House.