Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

HC Deb 29 June 1978 vol 952 cc641-2W

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the primary purpose of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is to expedite the collective bargaining process by, namely, methods such as the reduction of the number of unions representing like groups of workers.

Mr. Harold Walker

One of the statutory duties of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is to encourage the extension of collective bargaining and the development and, where necessary, reform of collective bargaining machinery. It is for the Service to decide how that duty should be discharged.