§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries allow members of the Armed Forces to be members of a trade union.
§ Mr. PymBelgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway allow their military personnel some form of collective representation. Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Turkey and the United States do not. Where collective representation is permitted the Service unions or associations are, in the main, consultative bodies with much more limited powers than British trade unions. We allow Service personnel to join existing trade unions as individuals provided this does not involve them in activities which would conflict with their military duties.