HC Deb 31 July 1984 vol 65 cc214-5
12. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service to discuss disputes procedures in industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Tom King

I meet the chairman of ACAS from time to time, but have no present plans to meet him to discuss this particular topic.

Mr. Madel

In view of the need to improve industrial relations, does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a special responsibility on management to see that individual employees know what agreed disputes procedures are and that management and unions, with the help of ACAS, should seek to improve disputes procedures so that industrial disruption is avoided?

Mr. King

I agree that it would be in the interests of all concerned in every industry for there to be better observance of disputes procedures, and for the disputes procedures to be properly observed before there is any question of strike action. That could not be more true than at present.

Mr. Skinner

On the question of negotiating jobs, has the Minister read the Tory house magazine The Sun this morning, which suggests that both he and the chairman of the Tory party ought to get the sack—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That has nothing to do with ACAS. Mr. John Evans.

Mr. Evans

Is it not —

Mr. Skinner

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I called Mr. John Evans.

Mr. Evans

Is it not time that the Secretary of State and his Cabinet colleagues recognised that it would be far better to involve the chairman of ACAS— as well as himself — in industrial disputes than to involve courts and judges who, by slapping huge fines on trade unions which take part in strike action, only exacerbate the situation and make strikes even harder to resolve?

Mr. King

The hon. Gentleman knows that ACAS remains ready at all times, if the parties wish, to offer its services, but it must be by joint invitation of the parties concerned. ACAS has certainly kept in touch during the present dispute, but at present it sees no role for itself. The hon. Gentleman also knows that ACAS, quite rightly, is not subject to ministerial direction. However, if the hon. Gentleman is saying that this dispute ought to be resolved by negotiation rather than by violence and stone-throwing and the type of violent picketing that we have seen, I most certainly agree with him.