HC Deb 19 October 1976 vol 917 cc1092-3
3. Mr. Aitken

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department in co-ordinating the draft of a Press charter as required by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Grant)

The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1976 does not require my Department to co-ordinate the draft of a Press charter, and it is not doing so.

Mr. Aitken

Is not the Minister being a little complacent? If agreement is not reached, he will have to impose a charter on the industry. Is he aware that all the signs and portents are that the parties will be completely unable to reach agreement on the terms of charter, because the National Union of Journalists is insisting on a closed shop in journalism which excludes the smaller trade union from the right to work? Does he not think that he should be doing something to bring the parties together?

Mr. Grant

The hon. Gentleman is being premature and unduly pessimistic. There is a considerable time to go, although one appreciates that the discussions are very difficult and delicate. That is all the more reason for us not to interfere. To do so now could well prove counter-productive.

Mr. Ron Thomas

Does my hon. Friend agree that many of the pontifications about a free Press that have surrounded the proceedings in trying to bring about a Press charter are completely divorced from reality, and that until we curb the power of the Press barons we shall not have a free Press? Will my hon. Friend reaffirm that members of the NUJ have every right to have a trade union membership agreement, just as any other group of workers in Britain has?

Mr. Grant

There are certainly many considerations in addition to the closed shop, including that to which my hon. Friend referred, which need some attention. I hope that all those with some influence in the newspaper industry, direct or indirect, will try to use it to secure a satisfactory result.

Mr. Prior

In that case, will the hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State use their influence as well to see that, with Press freedom very much at stake action is not taken by journalists to force a closed shop in a vital industry which should not have it and does not want it?

Mr. Grant

The Government's position on the closed shop has been made very clear on a number of occasions. Our position is neutral.