§ Q8. Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the agreement he signed on 2nd March with Herr Brandt setting up an Anglo-German Foundation to study modern industrial society.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Foundation follows a Federal German initiative which we warmly welcome. It is contributing about £2 million over the next five years. Its aims are to promote the study of the problems of industrial society. His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and President Heinemann have agreed to be patrons of the Foundation and Mr. Victor Feather, Sir David Barran and Sir Roger Jackling have accepted appointment to the Board of Trustees.
§ Mr. RobertsIs it not a fact that most German industries are served by one union each? Should not the benefits of that system be studied, especially in view of the wisdom of the National Union of Mineworkers, for example, in dealing with the National Coal Board recently?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is true that the German industrial system has a very few trade unions. No doubt it is a matter that the Foundation can study if it so decides, but I believe that the German system was founded on the advice of the British trade unions after the war.
§ Mr. ThorpeIs the Prime Minister also aware that we have much to learn from the record of good industrial partnership in Germany, particularly the two-tier system of management?
§ The Prime MinisterI have already told the House that it is a matter which we are studying and discussing inside the Community, because it was one of the objectives set out at the meeting of Heads of Government in Paris last October.
§ Mr. Tom KingWill the Foundation particularly draw on the German research into long-term manpower planning, which is well ahead of anything in this country?
§ The Prime MinisterAll I can do is to answer for the scope of the Foundation, and it is certainly within its scope to do that. The projects will have to be decided by the trustees.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIs the Prime Minister aware that the operation of the Industrial Relations Act is calculated to increase rather than reduce the number of trade unions? When does he think he should concede to the House, after more than two years' operation of the Act, that the Act is overdue for amendment, and when will he present amendments?
§ The Prime MinisterThe question was debated very fully during the passage of the Bill. I do not think that the hon. Gentleman can argue that the Act will necessarily lead to an increase in the number of unions. There are movements among unions, as the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, for the number to decrease. At the same time, it was considered that workers should be given the right to create new trade unions if they so desired.