§ 8. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment whom he has consulted about his proposals for changes in industrial relations legislation; and whom he intends further to consult.
§ Mr. TebbitMy proposals for further legislation are based on the responses to the Green Paper on trade union immunities from over 300 organisations and individuals. I have asked for comments on the proposals from any interested organisation or individual by the end of the year.
§ Mr. AdleyHas my right hon. Friend noticed the discrepancy in the attitude towards his proposals between the trade unionists polled by "Panorama" and the TUC? How does he intend to discover the real attitude of working people rather than the tired, old, warmongering noises that we hear from the TUC which do not appear to represent the views of working people?
§ Mr. TebbitThe MORI poll conducted by "Panorama" confirmed that there was great public support for my proposals, not least among trade unionists. That has been so in every opinion poll conducted for many years. There is widespread support for the reform that I propose, which was a plank of the Government's election manifesto in 1979.
§ Mr. EasthamWhile the Secretary of State is busying himself with introducing punitive anti-trade union legislation, will he consider having discussions with employers about their black list of trade unionists? Is it not time to introduce legislation in that area?
§ Mr. TebbitAs I am not considering introducing punitive anti-trade union measures, the hon. Gentleman's question does not arise. It may help if I tell him that the increased compensation that will be available to those dismissed for not being members of a trade union will be extended to those dismissed for being members of a trade union. That marks the fair and even-handed approach that I adopted in reaching my conclusions.
§ Mr. Robert AtkinsWill my right hon. Friend confirm that he has received a large number of varied representations from Conservative trade unionists, from all walks of life and from different unions? Will he further confirm that he valued the contributions that came from a wide variety of people in a wide variety of activities?
§ Mr. TebbitMy hon. Friend is right. It is no surprise to find the views of Conservative trade unionists clearly reflected in the opinion polls. That suggests that many trade unionists do not agree with the wildly political announcements of some of their leaders.
§ Mr. RadiceDoes the Secretary of State accept that a number of management, industrial relations and other employers organisations, including the Institute of Personnel Management, the Industrial Society and the Engineering Employers Federation, are disturbed about the direction of his proposals? Is he aware that many people believe that the main purpose of his legislation is to appease the hard men and women in the Conservative party, not to improve industrial relations?
§ Mr. TebbitI do not accept the hon. Gentleman's remarks, which are untrue. I have explained the purpose of the measures. First, they will deal with the abuses of the closed shop as they affect individuals. Secondly. they will underpin a better climate of industrial relations. The hon. Gentleman is selective about those whom he quotes. Sir Ray Pennock, the chairman of CBI, has described the package as just about right. Presumably the hon. Gentleman accepts that the CBI speaks for the employers.