§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Labour whether he has taken note of the fact that more trade unionists pay the political levy under the law of contracting out than they did when it was contracting in; whether he is aware that many trade unionists do not contract out because of their fear of intimidation by shop stewards and union officials; and whether he will restore contracting in instead of contracting out.
§ Mr. HeathAs regards the first part of the Question, I am aware of the statistical position; as to the second part of the Question, so far as I am aware there is no reliable information available 39W as to the grounds on which trade unionists decide to contract out or otherwise; the answer to the third part of the question is that the Government have no such proposal in mind.