Industrial Democracy (Hansard, 18 December 1975)

§ 8. Mr. Golding
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress the Interdepartmental Committee on Industrial Democracy in the Public Sector has made.

§ Mr. Dell
As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 16th December, in the first stage of the Government's study of industrial democracy in the nationalised industries we are finding out the views of all the interested parties. We discussed the study yesterday with representatives of the chairmen of the industries. We shall be consulting the TUC, and the individual unions concerned will be asked to give evidence.

§ Mr. Golding
Is it not ironic that individual unions have not yet been consulted? Will the Minister ensure that that is done as quickly as possible?

§ Mr. Dell
As I said in my main Answer, I assure my hon. Friend that unions will be consulted.

§ Mr. Adley
Which does the Paymaster-General think is the better exponent of good industrial democracy—Marks and Spencer or the Central Electricity Generating Board?

§ Mr. Dell
The nationalised industries have a very good record in this respect, and so does Marks and Spencer. Why should we not try to improve both?

§ Mr. Cryer
Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will take into account the development of industrial democracy at Chrysler by utilising the excellent report which the shop stewards have produced about the development of that company? Will he assure the House that the future of Chrysler will be bound up with the intimate working of industrial democracy and decision-making by the work people at the plants?

§ Mr. Dell
It is always open to companies to promote industrial democracy, and I hope that that happens at Chrysler. As my hon. Friend will know, an inquiry is now in progress into the promotion of industrial democracy in the private sector, and no doubt in any event, whatever happens in Chrysler, that will in due course have influence.