HC Deb 03 April 1979 vol 965 cc560-1W
17. Mr. Andrew MacKay

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to prevent the picketing of hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

48. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to prevent picketing of hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moyle

I have no power to prevent the legal picketing of hospitals. The unions involved in the recent disputes in the National Health Service issued a code of conduct to their members designed to maintain emergency services and services to highly dependent patients. When any breaches of the code occurred at local level, whether by picketing or through any other forms of industrial action, they were taken up with the unions at national level through the arrangements made for that purpose.