§ 1. The Government's objective is to ensure that a Bill repealing the Industrial Relations Act is introduced and passed through Parliament as quickly as possible. This necessarily 1486 limits the scope and contents of the present Bill. The Government are committed to introducing a second measure, provisionally entitled The Employment Protection Bill, and the need for speedy repeal of the Industrial Relations Act means that some desirable changes must be deferred and included in this later legislation.
§ 2. The provisions which it is proposed should be included in the Repeal Bill are summarised in the Annex to this note.
§ 3. It is proposed to defer to the second stage the establishment of an independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service (CAS) on a statutory basis. This will allow time for details of the scheme to be worked out with the TUC and the CBI, and for other necessary consultations which will include representatives of Departmental staff who may form part of the new Service.
§ 4. It will still be possible for a start to be made by bringing the CAS into existence administratively in advance of legislation. Statutory functions could be added later. Deferment does, however, mean that some functions proper to the CAS would have to be undertaken temporarily by other bodies.
§ ANNEX