§ 36. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Paymaster General how often he has met representatives of the recognised trade unions relevant to his responsibilities since assuming office.
§ The Paymaster General (Mr. Cecil Parkinson)Since assuming office I have had one meeting, at Crawley, with representatives of all the trade unions relevant to my responsibilities as Paymaster General.
§ Mr. PriceReverting to the question and the discharge of all the multifarious responsibilities, both towards his office and towards his party, that the right hon. Gentleman has when sitting as a member of the Cabinet, will he congratulate Mr. Clive Jenkins on using Tory legislation to try to get some information about takeovers in some of the firms in which his members are affected? Will he repudiate all the scare stories in the press that the Government are amazed at the legislation that they have passed—allowing trade unions access to this information—and that they will ensure that the trade unions get no further information of any kind about this matter? Will he ensure that all trade unions get further information of this kind?
§ Mr. ParkinsonI am responsible for the activities of 982 people at Crawley. As far as I know, few of them, if any, are members of Mr. Clive Jenkins' union. One of the bonuses of my job is that I have never had to meet him or take much notice of what he says.