§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce for Northern Ireland legislation equivalent to the Employment Protection Act and provisions similar to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; and when this is likely to happen.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI intend shortly to lay before Parliament a draft Industrial Relations Order which will include provisions, notably relating to unfair dismissal, contracts of employment, redundancy pay and procedures for handling redundancies, similar to provisions in the Employment Protection Act. The Order will also establish a Labour Relations Agency, whose functions will in some respects resemble those of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. I also intend urgently to promote a second Order to include further measures of employee protection, similar to provision made by the Employment Protection Act.