§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of ballots conducted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on the question of union recognition rights in each year since its inception; and, of that total, how many have shown majority votes against granting trade unions collective bargaining rights.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand from ACAS that, since the recognition provisions of the Employment Act 1975 came into force on 1st February 1976, the service has completed 112 recognition inquiries in which the opinions of the workers concerned have been ascertained in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Act. But the opinions sought have been about a variety of questions and it is not practicable to summarise these opinions in the way requested.