Trade Union Membership (Hansard, 20 February 1984)

§ 41. Mr. Teddy Taylor
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentage of civil servants are members of trade unions.

§ Mr. Hayhoe
Detailed figures of the total number of civil servants who are members of trade unions are not available.

§ Mr. Taylor
Apart from the major dispute, when the Government felt it right to withdraw automatic pay comparability, relations with the Civil Service unions have been marked by responsibility, integrity and co-operation. Will the Government bear that favourable record in mind when seeking solutions to current problems?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
I am sure that they will.

§ Mr. Winnick
Do not the reports show that quite a number—possibly a majority—of staff at GCHQ are refusing to abandon their trade union membership? Is the Minister aware that there can only be admiration for those who refuse to sell their rights in a democracy for 1,000 pieces of silver?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
I utterly repudiate the hon. Gentleman's emotive language. My right and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has been answering questions about the figures involved at GCHQ. There is at least one more question on the Order Paper for answer later this week.

§ Sir Kenneth Lewis
Will my hon. Friend confirm that among the civil servants employed in the Cabinet Office and other top echelons of the Civil Service there are many trade unionists and that there is no difference between their position and that of those at Cheltenham?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
As I have already said, detailed numbers right across the Civil Service are not held, but there will certainly be civil servants in the Cabinet Office who are members of unions. I suppose that throughout the Civil Service about three out of four civil servants are members of unions, but the proportion varies considerably between Departments, between different levels in the service and between different locations.

§ Dr. McDonald
How does the Minister know so accurately the number of trade union members at GCHQ, but not throughout the Civil Service?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
I have not replied to a question about the number of civil servants at GCHQ who are members of unions. That information is not available to me. The hon. Lady will know that where the check-off system is working, we know how many civil servants are subject to that system; but we also know that there are other civil servants who are members of unions but whose subscriptions are not worked through the check-off system.

§ 43. Mr. Dubs
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentage of civil servants are members of trades unions.

§ Mr. Hayhoe
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to question No. 41.

§ Mr. Dubs
Is the Minister aware that this Thursday there will be a mass lobby of Members of Parliament by civil servants because they wish to assert their rights to be members of trade unions? Can the Minister explain why there appears to be a deliberate policy on the part of senior Civil Service officials to deny leave to those civil servants who wish to exercise their democratic right this Thursday to lobby their Members of Parliament?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
A note has been circulated by the industrial relations division of the Treasury, as is normal in such circumstances. Granting leave is subject to management discretion. Departments will be dealing with leave requests in accordance with normal procedures.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
Is my hon. Friend telling us that quite a number of civil servants at GCHQ and elsewhere are not trade unionists but that people at Cheltenham who never have been, do not intend to become and perhaps, for reasons of conscience, do not want to be members of a trade union will be offered £1,000 not to join one?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
I understand that the offer of £1,000 is made to all staff at GCHQ who fulfil the conditions.

§ Mr. Foulkes
Has the Minister noted the increase in the percentage of senior civil servants who are not members of trade unions, who retire on large salaries and then take up highly paid jobs in industry, the City and commerce? Is it not about time that the rules governing that were looked at again?

§ Mr. Hayhoe
The rules governing that were looked at by a Select Committee about three years ago, and certain changes followed. I understand from reading press reports that there is a possibility that the Select Committee will wish to look at the matter again.

§ Mr. Winnick
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Question No. 37, standing in the name of the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), was not called. It deals with Opposition time and taking into account the composition of the House. Is it not interesting that the Liberal Member who tabled the question is not here to ask it, although the question relates to a topic that is of great interest to the House?

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) withdrew his queston. That is not unusual.

§ Mr. Meadowcroft
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. It might interest the House to note that question No. 2 was also withdrawn, although that covered an important topic. As you said, Mr. Speaker, that often happens.