§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHasked Her Majesty's Government:
To provide a table showing, month by month since June, 1969, the number of approaches made by or on behalf of the Department of Employment to the Trades Union Congress to assist formally or informally in the settlement of a specified industrial dispute or threatened dispute; and to state in general terms whether T.U.C. action in such cases is believed to have been conducive to settlements.
§ LORD DENHAMI regret that information in the form requested is not readily available. As the T.U.C. General Council's last report pointed out, most disputes referred to them since June, 1969, have been reported by affiliated organisations in accordance with the revised T.U.C. rules. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Employment acknowledges the efforts made by the T.U.C. in trying to help resolve industrial disputes. Individual unions will no doubt continue to seek the T.U.C.s assistance in appropriate cases. The Government will also continue to draw cases to the T.U.C.s attention where it appears that their intervention would be helpful.