§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Industry why he will not give an undertaking that any information given to his Department following a request under his powers in the Industry Bill will continue to be treated as confidential by him when it has also been given to a trade union in accordance with the provisions of the Bill.
§ Mr. Heffer:The Bill places no constraint on the use to which trade unions may put information provided to them as a consequence of a ministerial requirement, and there is no reason why the Minister should give an undertaking which would prevent his exercising his discretion in the public interest. For example, if, through the exercise of the information powers, I learned of plans for the imminent closure of an important industrial concern, I might regard it as proper to inform this House at the same time as the unions were informed by the company.