HC Deb 18 January 1972 vol 829 cc211-2
Q4. Mr. Onslow

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings he held during 1971 with representatives of trade unions at local or national level.

The Prime Minister

In addition to informal contacts, I held nine meetings last year with representatives of the trades union movement. I have also had a number of meetings with bodies whose membership includes trades unionists, such as the National Economic Development Council and Regional Economic Planning Councils in different parts of the country.

Mr. Onslow

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that, in these discussions, the reaction which he usually gets from the trade union side is more realistic, responsible and constructive than that which he normally gets from right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite?

The Prime Minister

The members of trade unions who have been in discussion with me will agree that every point that they raised has been given full consideration. Mr. Victor Feather himself said just before Christmas that many points put to the Government in the last six months have been met fully.

Mr. Orme

The Prime Minister has just referred to Mr. Victor Feather. Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it deplorable that he and his Government have taken no action about the national coal strike and that it has been left to Mr. Feather to take the first initiative to bring the two sides together? When will the Prime Minister intervene in this strike and use his offices to bring the two sides together and to make money available so that the miners can have a proper settlement?

The Prime Minister

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is mistaken in his facts. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment himself invited the two sides to meet him at St. James's Square—

Mr. Orme

No. His officials.

The Prime Minister

I speak as a onetime Minister of Labour. The customary procedure is, first, for those involved in a dispute to meet officials in the Ministry. Then they move on, if that is what they require or if the circumstances are suitable, to meet the Secretary of State. The invitation was given and it was refused by the National Union of Mineworkers. But the whole matter is to be debated today.