HC Deb 19 January 1971 vol 809 c714
Q1. Mr. Ashley

asked the Prime Minister if he will reduce the number of Ministers concerned with industrial conciliation.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

I have been asked to reply.

No, Sir.

Mr. Ashley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no point in the Government preaching about "one nation" while they refuse to conciliate in industrial disputes, thus helping to create two nations? Will he learn from the growing bitterness of the power and postal workers, drawing the lesson that the Government's policy of calculated indifference will result only in encouraging calculated industrial disputes?

Mr. Maudling

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's description of the Government's policy, which always has been that it is within the discretion of the Secretary of State for Employment to decide whether to use his conciliation services. I understand that a statement may be made quite soon about the Post Office dispute.