HC Deb 14 June 1978 vol 951 cc553-4W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the responsibilities and purpose of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service differ from those of the Conciliation and Arbitration Service it replaced.

Mr. Harold Walker

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service was given specific statutory responsibilities—for example, in relation to trade union recognition—by the Employment Protection Act 1975. Its general purpose and functions, however, remain basically the same as those of the Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, prior to making the appointment, what assessment he made of the contribution of the experience of the chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to his performing his job in accordance with the objective and unbiased role assigned to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service by the Employment Protection Act 1975.

Mr. Harold Walker

In making an appointment of this kind, my right hon. Friend would naturally consider only people who had demonstrated that they were likely to perform the job in an objective and unbiased manner.