§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware that Swansea Borough Council has refused to allow ambulance personnel to belong to the Federation of Ambulance Personnel, that these personnel were given notice unless they joined a recognised union and, having joined the Transport Union, they have been fined a £15 levy and £5 back subscription and banned from overtime work for one year; and whether he will use his powers under the Conciliation Act, 1896, to remedy the situation.
§ Mr. BryanI understand that the Swansea Corporation requires employees to be in membership of one of the trade unions represented on the appropriate negotiating machinery. The T. & G.W.U. has informed us that five members of the Federation of Ambulance Personnel who recently rejoined the union to comply with this requirement were charged the maximum entrance fee of £10 under the union's rules and that they were not charged arrears of subscription nor have they been banned from working overtime. There is no dispute within the meaning of the Conciliation Act, 1896, and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene.