§ 14. Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what access he permits trade union representatives to Service men for the purpose of enlisting them in trade unions.
§ 15. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what access he permits trade union representatives to Service men for the purpose of enlisting them in trade unions.
§ Mr. MulleyAs an aid to resettlement, we have entered into agreements with a considerable number of trade unions whereby Service personnel are eligible for direct admission to membership of the relevant union. Details of these agreements, together with advice on how to contact the appropriate trade union officials, are given in a number of Service publications.
§ Miss RichardsonDoes that mean that trade union representatives have access to members of the Armed Forces in terms of recruiting—that is, before they become members of a trade union? Does my right hon. Friend agree that his Department and the Armed Services might benefit from a study of Western European countries in which trade unionism is accepted as a right without any loss of security or discipline?
§ Mr. MulleyI am aware of the publication of the Assembly of the Western European Union of 1974, I think it was. The practice in NATO countries is varied. In a very few instances are there any unions in the Armed Forces of a kind that fulfil the functions that my hon. Friend would recognise as the bona fide activities of trade unions.
§ Mr. SkinnerWill my right hon. Friend enlist the support of ACAS in this matter? Does he agree that trade union involvement throughout industry has meant an improvement in safety techniques and methods employed by management as well as the workers concerned? Should that not apply to the Army? It the Common Market issues a directive on the matter, will he follow it?
§ Mr. MulleyI shall await with great interest any such Common Market directive. I wonder whether, if I were to follow such a directive, I should have the support of my hon. Friend, who is notorious for his full support of the Common Market. I recognise the tremendous job that trade unions have done in industry. However, there would be substantial difficulties in having exactly the same pay and disciplinary negotiating rights within the Armed Forces as in civilian employment, for a number of reasons. I will spell them out for my hon. Friend at some other time, if he wishes.
§ Mrs. KnightDoes the Secretary of State agree that defending British citizens against their enemies is the first duty of any Government and that to take any steps that could lead to politically motivated strikes within the Armed Forces, as, according to the ex-Leader of the Labour Party, happens in industry, would be to renege on this duty to our people?
§ Mr. MulleyI assure the hon. Lady that none of Her Majesty's Forces is anxious to go on strike, whether politically motivated or otherwise. I do not think that that is a likely consequences that the hon. Lady should lie awake and worry about.