HC Deb 20 May 1980 vol 985 cc230-1
4. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he proposes to have further consultations with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry about the long-term improvement of industrial relations.

Mr. Prior

I have had a number of discussions with both the TUC and CBI about improving industrial relations. If representatives of these organisations wish to discuss their ideas with me I am always ready to devote time to further meetings.

Mr. Knox

Does my right hon. Friend agree that if there is to be a long-term improvement in industrial relations it is important that employees, especially in large organisations, have a greater say about the destiny of the firm for which they work and their conditions of employment? In view of the reluctance of management and unions to do anything about that, has my right hon. Friend any proposals to encourage greater employee participation?

Mr. Prior

I constantly urge employers to involve their work forces more in the decisions which affect them. I am urgently considering whether we can take further initiatives to get that message across.

Mr. Freeson

Will the Secretary of State study as a possible initiative—as apparently did the late Sir John Methven—ideas about market socialism which have been put across by various people?

Mr. Prior

I am not sure what the right hon. Gentleman means by "market socialism." If he is referring to cooperatives and co-operative ventures, I tell him that we have always given our support to such enterprises.

Mr. Madel

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that it is open to the TUC and the CBI to make representations to him before he publishes draft codes of practice on improvements in industrial relations? Does he expect to publish any such codes before the autumn?

Mr. Prior

Yes. I welcome any views on codes dealing with the closed shop and picketing that we are likely to bring forward. We shall seek to introduce draft codes or perhaps codes which can be considered and consulted upon before the Summer Recess. The full codes will be introduced in the House in the autumn.