HC Deb 11 November 1971 vol 825 cc1207-8
11. Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unions have remained on the provisional register of trade unions, and how many have become organisations of workers.

Mr. R. Carr

I am informed by the Registrar that there were 268 organisations of workers entered on the provisional register on 5th November. Before that date he had removed at their own request 76 organisations from the provisional register.

Mr. Golding

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many trade unions are having to go to the expense of holding special conferences and securing changes of rule to come off the register, and that the vast majority of trade unions are determined to go through these procedures so that they do not go on to the register?

Mr. Carr

I cannot say what unions should decide to do about changing their rules. That is their own affair. As to the point raised in the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, we shall have to let time pass and see what the ultimate answer is.

Mr. Heffer

But does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that under the Industrial Relations Act the question of changing the rules is not entirely the unions' affair? It is very much determined by the existence of the Act itself. Is he not aware that because of the Act problems have been created in the trade union movement which never existed before, that divisions within the movement have arisen which never existed before, and that the Government are totally responsible for the situation?

Mr. Carr

I am glad to say that there are also great opportunities which never existed before for the trade unions, as time will show. There is a great obligation on both sides because we believe, as we have debated in the House before, that when organisations like employers' associations and trade unions claim, quite rightly, to exercise the amount of influence which they wield in our economy and public affairs, it is right that they should be accountable to the public.

Mr. Adam Butler

Will my right hon. Friend do everything possible to encourage the trade unions to draw to the attention of their members the benfits of staying on the register and the severe risk which they run if they come off it?

Mr. Carr

Certainly I will. I will do all I can to draw to everyone's attention the benefits of the provisions of the Act.

Mr. Russell Kerr

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of the alleged 268 unions remaining on the register are staff associations and similar bodies, employer-dominated and frequently employer-financed?

Mr. Carr

If they are employer-dominated, the Act will ensure that they cannot remain on the register even if they wish to do so. The names of the 268 are available to the hon. Gentleman or anyone else, since the register is open to the public.