§ 3. Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations she had with the relevant employers' organisations or with the trade unions concerned before referring to the Commission on Industrial Relations the question of collective bargaining in the hotel and catering industry.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerMy right hon. Friend consulted the C.B.I. and the T.U.C. At the request of the C.B.I. she also consulted the British Hotels and Restaurants Association.
§ Mr. BlakerDoes the hon. Gentleman regard it as enough to consult the C.B.I.? Is he aware that one of the main trade associations was consulted only the day before the reference was made, and then at its own initiative, and that the other was not consulted at all?
§ Mr. WalkerI accept that it was rather late when the British Hotels and Restaurants Association was consulted. But I ask the House to understand that there was difficulty about hammering out a procedure for dealing with proposed references. One has now been agreed with the T.U.C. and the C.B.I. We consulted the British Hotels and Restaurants Association as a consequence of the procedure.