HC Deb 13 June 1978 vol 951 cc498-9W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service have experience in the management of small businesses—those with less than 100 employees; who these members are; and what specially was the nature of this experience.

Mr. Harold Walker

All members of the ACAS Council have wide industrial relations experience. I am not aware that any have managed small businesses.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the cases that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has undertaken to date involved firms with fewer than 100 employees.

Mr. Harold Walker

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in appointing the persons selected for membership in the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, especially the professors who were not involved in any official capacity in trade unions nor in the management of large industries, what evidence he had that they would not be biased either towards labour or towards management in the settlement of an actual dispute and that they would contribute to the impartial and objective role assigned to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service by the Employment Protection Act 1975.

Mr. Harold Walker

In appointing the three members in relation to whom consultation with employers' organisations or trade unions is not required, the Secretary of State took account of their experience in other positions requiring a broad and objective understanding of industrial relations issues. Members of the ACAS Council do not normally assist in seeking to resolve individual disputes.