HC Deb 28 January 1971 vol 810 cc787-8
6. Mr. Allason

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy with regard to conditions of employment which require the membership of a trade union.

Mr. R. Carr

The Industrial Relations Bill establishes a clear legal right to belong or not to belong to a trade union and provides remedies against actions aimed at preventing or deterring a worker from exercising this right or discriminating against him for so doing.

Mr. Allason

Will my right hon. Friend draw the attention of British Transport Hotels Ltd. to this policy and urge it not to discharge employees whose only fault is that they are unwilling to join a union?

Mr. Carr

At the moment, of course, all employers have to operate under the law as it stands, but I hope and imagine, particularly after our debate yesterday, that all employers will be aware of what the new policy is to be.

Mr. Douglas

Following his reply, will the right hon. Gentleman issue publicity material to British Transport to give it guidance as to how it should encourage its employees to become members of trade unions?

Mr. Carr

I hope that British Rail and all employers, as I said last night, will regard it as one of their tasks normally to encourage their employees to join their appropriate unions. I do not think it would help for the Government to lay down precisely how each employer should do this.