HC Deb 04 December 1996 vol 286 c1024
2. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the representations he has received about the Green Paper "Industrial Action and Trade Unions". [5780]

The Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs (Mr. John M. Taylor)

The Green Paper was published on 19 November and the consultation period lasts until the end of February next year. To date, I have received one representation, from the Trades Union Congress.

Mr. Marshall

I am sure that my hon. Friend recognises that the people of Britain welcome the transformation of industrial relations over the past 17 years, which is due to the reforms of the Conservative party, which were opposed by the Labour party. Does he also recognise that London commuters and those who occasionally receive letters in London are fed up with the disruption of postal and London Underground services by strikes and with the sponsored silence of Labour Members whenever there is a strike?

Mr. Taylor

My hon. Friend is certainly right and I am sure that the majority of the British people agree with him.

Mr. Winnick

Does the Minister accept that one important aspect of democracy is the right to strike? That right must be preserved at all costs. On costs to industry, the best change for industry would be removal of this totally discredited Government.

Mr. Taylor

The more important conclusion is that the number of strikes in the public sector is much higher than in the private sector. Clearly, we must do more about privatisation.

Mr. David Shaw

When my hon. Friend considers the representations that he has received, will he look carefully at the accounts of the trade unions that made representations? Will he examine the political funds and parliamentary panels and ensure that how much they contribute to the office and other expenses of Labour Members is published? Much of the information in those union accounts is not identifiable and one cannot discover which Labour Members receive money in that way.

Mr. Taylor

I am certainly prepared to take those points into account. The unions are paymasters to the Labour party to the tune of millions of pounds. That may well explain why the Labour party does not agree with the Green Paper.