§ 17. Mr. Fletcher-Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many appointments to industrial tribunals of members representing employees have gone to members that are affiliated to the TUC and how many to members of other registered unions who are not affiliated.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAll 1,095 employee members of the tribunals have been appointed following consultation with the TUC.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeThat is not an answer. Is the Minister saying that no members have been appointed from a registered union other than unions affiliated to the TUC? If he is saying that, is it not a scandalous abuse of the power of judicial appointment that the Minister should not appoint perfectly qualified persons simply because they do not choose to affiliate?
§ Mr. WalkerI do not think that the hon. and learned Member can have listened to what I said. If all the employee members were appointed following consultation with the TUC, it follows that none had been appointed without consultation with the TUC. With regard to the latter part of the hon. and learned Gentleman's supplementary question, the statutory position now and the practice followed by the Government is exactly that which was followed between 1965 and 1971 when it went unquestioned.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWill the Minister confirm that half of the employees in this country are not members of a TUC-affiliated union? If he can confirm that, will he tell us why it is reasonable not to appoint anyone who would represent people with this kind of aptitude or membership of a non-affiliated union? Does he not accept that there is a better way of taking the politics out of trade union membership?
§ Mr. WalkerI must tell the hon, Gentleman that the statutory obligation on my right hon. Friend, which was laid down in 1971 by the then Conservative Government, requires him to consult organisations which represent employees. I know of no organisation that represents non-union members.
§ Mr. HayhoeWill the Minister ensure that when further appointments are made to industrial tribunals account will be taken of the fact that about one in 10 members of unions are in unions not affiliated to the TUC? It is quite wrong that they should not have the chance of serving on industrial tribunals.
§ Mr. WalkerNo; I think that we need employee representatives on industrial tribunals who understand the problems of ordinary working people. By and large, the organisations to which the hon. Gentleman refers represent professional and managerial workers. I do not think they would reflect the interests to which I have referred.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.