§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the circular that his Department has sent out to area health authorities as to the disposition and handling of volunteers drafted in to maintain normal services in the event of industrial disputes in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement on the effect which this policy is calculated to have on industrial relations within the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinA copy of the circular HC(79)20 has already been placed in the Library.
The circular is concerned with all aspects of handling industrial disputes and not just with the use of volunteers. Both management and staff need to be clear where they stand in the event of industrial action, whether or not amounting to a strike.