§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will define the grounds, other than religious or political, which he intends will constitute a deeply held personal conviction not to join a trade union;
(2) whether membership of an anti-trade union political party would constitute a " deeply held personal conviction " for not belonging to, or joining, a trade union.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Government intend to introduce a provision to extend the protection of the existing unfair dismissal provisions to, among others, those who have deeply held personal convictions as to union membership. As our recently issued working paper on the closed shop indicates, there is more than one way that the legislation could treat such a provision, and views on this and other matters have been invited.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will define the practical reasons why employers and employees enter into trade unions closed shop agreements.
§ Mr. MayhewIt is clear that some employers as well as trade unions see advantages in closed shop agreements in their particular circumstances, and it is only they who can fully define the advantages and circumstances which have led them to make such agreements.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the 325W religious orders, membership of which has proved acceptable to trades unions as grounds for not belonging to a trade union.
§ Mr. MayhewI regret that this information is not available.