§ 7. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will consider introducing legislation enforcing industrial and commercial firms to pay the wages and salaries or part thereof of employees laid off work due to industrial disputes in which they were not directly involved.
§ Mr. HattersleySuch legislation would need to be considered in the context of any general requirement for employers to make payments to suspended workers. The Government are keeping this matter under review.
§ Mr. RobertsWould my hon. Friend not agree that while private industry are wallowing in public money—S.E.T., premium repayments, development grants and so on—his Department should insist that they have certain responsibilities to their employees and the public generally?
§ Mr. HattersleyVirtually all of the public money placed at the disposal of industry is essential to the general economic objectives of the Government. As to payment while workers are suspended, the Government are anxious to bring in such a scheme but very severe actuarial problems are involved.
§ Sir G. NabarroWould the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that private industry already carries a very onerous burden, especially heavy on factory owners and managers, through the fractricidal strife 10 created by inter-union disagreement? Should he not tackle the matter fundamentally rather than go for the overburdened employer?
§ Mr. HattersleyIf the hon. Gentleman would read my right hon. Friend's Report, he would find that that is exactly what she intends to do.