§ 33. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will initiate discussions with both sides of the engineering industry in order to remove trades union-imposed obstacles to the employment of former Royal Navy mechanicians in that industry.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo. The responsibility for negotiating with trade unions on recognition of service trades rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. He is continuing to seek official union recognition of Royal Navy mechanicians as skilled in their trade and it is not appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene.