§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether there is any provision either in existing statutes or in Bills currently before the House which protects Members of Parliament against the institution of a closed shop or 100 per cent. trade union membership arrangement at their place of work, namely the House of Commons; and which other groups of persons are similarly protected.
§ Mr. FootUnder Section 30(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act a union membership agreement means an agreement between employers or employers associations and trade unions representing employees. As Members of Parliament have no employer, an organisation representing them could not enter into a union membership agreement.704W Employers and unions are not prevented by legislation, either present or proposed, from instituting union membership agreements in respect of any group of employees, although person with genuine religious objections to belonging to any trade union whatsoever may not fairly be compelled to join a union if there is a closed shop agreement at their place of work.