§ 12. Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trades unions have applied for public money to cover the cost of postal ballots under the provisions of the Employment Act 1980.
§ Mr. Tom KingI am informed by the certification officer that 26 trade unions have applied for public money under the provisions of the Employment Act 1980 towards the cost incurred in holding secret postal ballots.
§ Mr. RoweDoes my right hon. Friend derive encouragement from those figures, or does he believe that they show that there is no need to provide public money to encourage trade unions to carry out ballots?
§ Mr. KingOne can draw some encouragement from the fact that, after an unpromising start, there is clear evidence that several trade unions understand the opportunities that exist in the legislation. I said that 26 unions had applied for public funds to hold secret ballots, and I understand that more major unions may follow that course, which will mean better opportunities for democratic choice for their members.
§ Mr. SkinnerDoes the Secretary of State accept that it is nothing short of hypocrisy for the Government to tell trade unions that they should have postal ballots, when on 30 September the Government, under the guidance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, told a group of business men to get together at the Bank of England to save Johnson Matthey bankers, at the same time as they are closing uneconomic pits—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I gave the hon. Gentleman the opportunity to ask a question about postal ballots, not about Johnson Matthey.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs there not one law for the City, which does not need postal ballots to use taxpayers' money, and another one for the trade unions, which are told by the Government to have secret ballots?
§ Mr. KingI hope that that made the hon. Gentleman feel good, but it did not have much to do with the question.
§ Mr. Peter BruinvelsIs it not particularly to be welcomed that postal ballots are to be used by so many trade unions? Does this not show that trade unions are finally becoming democratic and truly wish to reflect the views of all their members and not just those of some of their Left-wing executive members?
§ Mr. KingHon. Members will have seen the further statements from a number of trade unions, and one can take encouragement from the fact that, increasingly, trade unions are bringing their procedures into line with the legislation that we have passed, which I hope will be helpful and in the interests not only of their members but of better and more orderly conduct of industrial relations.
§ Mr. AshtonHow can the Government try to compel trade unions to ballot their members when the Government do not ballot their Back Benchers on measures such as the recent students grants measure?
§ Mr. AshtonNo.
§ Mr. KingI am glad to see then that he supports our proposals and that that view is spreading to the Labour Benches.