§ 20. Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees in the public sector have been dismissed for refusing to join a trade union.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe information is not available.
§ Mr. WalkerBecause, as the hon, Gentleman and his hon. Friends should know, there is no obligation on employers or the unions to notify the Government in this kind of situation.
§ Mr. MayhewDoes not the Minister have sufficient interest in the consequences of his recent legislation even to inquire how many people have been flung out of work—for example Mr. Roger Webster, my constituent and a former member of British Rail—as a result of refusing to join a union when there is no conscience clause in operation?
§ Mr. WalkerIs the hon. and learned Gentleman suggesting that there ought to be an obligation on companies to notify the Government of dismissals that occur in these circumstances, particularly when, as has been stressed on so many occasions, the Government's attitude is one of complete neutrality?
§ Mr. PriorHave the Government no interest in this matter? Are they not prepared to use their influence to bring about a situation in the nationalised industries in which people are not dismissed from their jobs just because, on conscience grounds, they refuse to join a union? Is not that a scandalous state of affairs? Are not the Government prepared to do anything about it except wash their hands of it?
§ Mr. WalkerAgain, I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will state the Opposition's position on the closed shop. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] Are they against it, are they in favour of it, or do they share the view—which we have expressed so often from this Dispatch Box, which is embodied in our legislation and which is one of complete neutrality—that these matters should be left to the parties in industry to determine for themselves?
§ Mr. GowIn view of the shameful nature of that reply, Mr. Speaker, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.