HC Deb 21 December 1976 vol 923 cc449-50
9. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the principal religious sects whose precepts would enable a worker to avoid joining a trade union closed shop.

Mr. Harold Walker

No, Sir. It is for an industrial tribunal to determine in each individual case, in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions, whether a person genuinely objects on grounds of religious belief to being a members of any trade union whatsoever.

Miss Fookes

Does not the Minister realise that failure to give any guidance of this sort make it hard for the individual who wishes to stand out against trade union membership? Is it the wish of the Government to make that as difficult as possible?

Mr. Walker

Let me explain to the hon. Lady, as I have explained to the House so often, that we believe that these matters are best determined by employers and trade unions. The Government's attitude to this issue is one of absolute neutrality. Deciding whether a person genuinely holds religious convictions which would prevent or deter him from being a member of a union is best left to an industrial tribunal rather than requiring Ministers or an Act of Parliament to determine the question.

Mr. Adley

The Minister's constant parrot cry of neutrality in these matters is not believed by anyone in industry, and it certainly is not believed by workers on the shop floor. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that most peple working in this country are well aware that the Labour Party and the big trade unions have a pact, the object of which is to ensure that every working person is pushed into a closed shop agreement?

Mr. Walker

The hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) has just inflicted upon this House some fanciful figment of his imagination.