§ 47. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will issue a general direction to the Post Office that recognition shall be given in respect of any grade of its staff to any union or association which establishes that a majority of the staff in that grade wish to be represented by it.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo, Sir.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the overseas telegraph operators who were taken over with Cable and Wireless by the Post Office have in considerable numbers been discontented with their union representation for some years and does not he accept the principle set out in the Question?
§ Mr. StonehouseI cannot accept the right hon. Gentleman's preamble. It would be quite wrong for a Minister to interfere with the responsibility of the Post Office in its industrial relations.
§ Mr. BryanDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in its efforts to reduce the number of unions with which it has to deal the Post Office is possibly going too far in trying to eliminate bodies which really have a right of representation?
§ Mr. StonehouseThis is a subject best left to the good sense of the Post Office and the staff working within it. The less we say about it the better.