42. Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that, in any proposed changes he introduces in the law relating to industrial relations, the rights of employees in Wales to be members of a union whose proceedings are normally conducted in Welsh will be safeguarded notwithstanding the fact that such a union may not have negotiating rights for its members.
§ Mr. BoothMy right hon. Friend's proposals for the Employment Protection Bill, set out in the consultative document published in September, include a proposal that employees should not be prevented or deterred from being members of an independent trade union. But if such employees are of a class covered by a union membership agreement the terms of the agreement may make membership of a union specified in the agreement a condition of their employment. Such a provision would not, however, rule out membership of a second union.