§ 6. Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Trades Union Congress about the conditions of service of casual workers in the newspaper industry.
§ Mr. BrothertonDoes not the Secretary of State agree that it is wrong that a small section of the work force should be treated entirely differently by the Inland Revenue from the rest of the population? Will he get the TUC leaders to condemn this practice, which is contrary to the interests of the vast majority of its members?
§ Mr. BoothTaxation of casual workers, as the hon. Gentleman knows, is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. MoonmanRather than condemn the group of workers concerned, will my right hon. Friend agree that there are serious problems affecting those who work on a casual basis in the newspaper industry Would he refer to the latest developments at The Times? Is he prepared to make any statement? One of the elements in that dispute is the casual worker. My right hon. Friend has played a great part in trying to bring the two sides together.
§ Mr. BoothOver the years, inquiries into casual working in a number of industries, including the docks and construction industries as well as newspapers, have shown that it has frequently led to malpractices and industrial relations difficulties. In the case of The Times newspaper where the casual working practices were only one of a great many difficulties, I understand that negotiations are going ahead effectively. I hope to see that paper back in publication very shortly.