§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on her attempts to assist the Union of Insurance Staffs to obtain trade union recognition from the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Company; what response has been made by this company to her Department's request for discussions; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harold Walker:My Department has had separate meetings with representatives of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation and the Union of Insurance Staffs to discuss the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Industrial Relations that 376W the Corporation should negotiate with the union a formal agreement which would give the union consultative rights and establish a grievance procedure. The Corporation is prepared to discuss problems relating to individual employees with the General Secretary of the union, as it has been in the past, but it is not prepared to go beyond this on the basis of the union's present membership among its employees or to take part in joint discussions with the union under my Department's chairmanship. In view of the Corporation's attitude, which I regret, there is no further action which my right hon. Friend can usefully take at present.