§ 4. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about recent developments between his Department and other parties involved in seeking to resolve the industrial dispute at Grunwick.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Employment (Mr. Harold Walker)The issue of trade union recognition which underlies this dispute will fall to be determined in the light of the House of Lords decision about the validity of the recommendation by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service in March. Meaningful discussion of the other issues involved in this case have been made impossible by the attitude of the company.
§ Mr. PavittIs it not a tragedy that this case has set back the whole concept of conciliation and across-the-table conferences? Is there any way in which we can in future avoid a confrontation when it is possible, by conciliation and arbitration, to have a peaceful settlement?
§ Mr. WalkerIt would be wrong if this wholly deplorable incident were to detract attention from the success which ACAS has had in applying the statutory procedures for recognition. It has been successful in nearly 400 cases. On this specific issue, we want to hear the decision of the House of Lords and to consider whether, in the light of that, it may be necessary to look again at the statutory procedures.
§ Mr. GorstIs not the position that, Mr. Ward having accepted three out of the four recommendations of the Scar-man inquiry—in other words, all but the matter of reinstatement—the dispute is now effectively over from his point of view, and it now remains for the trade unions to recognise that fact?
§ Mr. WalkerI am bound to point out that Mr. Ward has refused to accept the crucially important first recommendation of the Scarman Committee.
§ Mr. WalkerI am bound to say, too, that had Mr. Ward shown a greater respect and a greater recognition of the statutory procedures and institutions set up by this House, this unhappy sequence of events might never have occurred.