§ 24. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity 832 what initiatives he has taken to negotiate between the Co-operative Insurance Society and their agents during the current dispute.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Employment and Productivity (Mr. Paul Bryan)Officers of my Department have been in touch with the society and the union since the outset of this dispute and a joint meeting was held under Departmental chairmanship on 29th June, without a settlement being reached. I understand that the T.U.C. has also been in touch with the union concerned, and proposes to have discussions shortly with representatives of the society.
§ Mr. DalyellIn spite of the meeting on 29th June and the singularly ill-conceived letter from the general manager to the agents, will not the Department use its good offices and try to bring the parties together?
§ Mr. BryanI think that the Department has already done this, with fairly good effect. I assure the hon. Member that the staff have discussed all the possibilities, including arbitration, with both parties, but there can be no arbitration unless it is voluntarily wanted on both sides.