§ Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date the report of the Commission on Industrial Relations on industrial relation training is to be published; and what is the Government's attitude to the report.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanThe report is being published today.
The Government welcome this study of a subject of considerable importance for the improvement of industrial relations. The report is based on extensive and detailed inquiry into the nature and extent of industrial relations training as well as careful appraisal of work being done in this field by the organisations which provide training. It concludes that there is insufficient training in industrial relations, that much of what is done is not practical enough and that more attention should be given to training for collective bargaining.
The report makes recommendations not only to the Government but to employers, employers' associations and the CBI, to trade unions and the TUC, to industrial training boards and various bodies in the educational field, and all these organisations will now wish to consider the recommendations which concern them. I believe that the Practical Guide for Unions and Employers prepared by the commission, which is also being published today, will be particularly helpful in this respect.
My Department and other Departments concerned are studying what should be done in the light of the report to stimulate improved industrial relations training, and will be consulting other interested bodies as may be necessary. I agree with the suggestion in the report that when it is set up the Manpower Services Commission will be the right body to take on the task of securing better industrial relations training, but action will not be held up meanwhile.