§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action if need be by amending legislation to enable the police forces to have the same full trade union rights as every other type of civilian employee.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesProvision for police repesentative institutions is made in Part III of the Police Act 1964 and in subordinate regulations made by the Secretary of State. I am considering a proposal by the Police Federation for England and Wales that those provisions should be reviewed in the light of contemporary principles and practice in the field of industrial relations. It would certainly be my wish that they and other2W police representative associations should have the rights they need to enable them to represent their members effectively, subject to the limitations imposed by the unique position of the police as a service under discipline responsible for the maintenance of law and order.