§ 8. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will investigate recent developments in management practices in British industry with a view to introducing legislation to curb undesirable management practices.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe Manpower and Productivity Service is in close touch with developments in management practices in British industry and the officers of that Service are available to give advice and guidance to management. The legislation and other measures proposed in the White Paper "In Place of Strife" will assist in promoting desirable management practices in the industrial relations field.
§ Mr. RobertsWould my hon. Friend not agree that there are political implications in some of the management attitudes recently adopted by large firms, particularly international companies? Would he not insist that when international companies invest in Britain and derive money from the British taxpayer, they should do so under certain specified conditions?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe rules of good management practice which ought to characterise the behaviour of foreign firms are identical with those which we expect from indigenous firms. As to individual examples and complaints, my right hon. Friend and her Department have done all they can to make sure that they are cleared up satisfactorily.