HC Deb 11 November 1971 vol 825 cc1211-2
15. Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will submit the Code of Industrial Relations Practice to Parliament for approval.

Mr. R. Carr

I hope to do so shortly after the Christmas Recess.

Mr. Page

While the code is still in draft, will my right hon. Friend make one more personal appeal to the T.U.C. to show responsibility to the members of its unions and give its views on the document?

Mr. Carr

The T.U.C. collectively is in no doubt of my willingness and, indeed, eagerness to consult it. That is well known. But I should like to take this opportunity to repeat it.

Mr. Orme

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the operation of the Act is already causing divisive actions within industry over the question of staff unions seeking registration and over problems such as those occurring in the Fire Brigades Union with its London members? Is not this a recipe for industrial unrest, and will it not increase? The code is absolute nonsense and there is no point in this situation in the T.U.C. discussing it with him.

Mr. Carr

The hon. Gentleman is extremely ill informed about what is going on throughout industry. Even in its present form, the code is stimulating a degree of discussion and consideration amongst managements throughout the country—whose primary responsibility it is, we are all agreed, to initiate the right sort of changes—to an extent which exceeds my expectations. In reply to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I remind him that the difficulties arise only through those bodies which choose to deny themselves the great benefits of registration.