HC Deb 24 February 1981 vol 999 cc329-30W
26. Mr. Garel-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet the Trades Union Congress general secretary to discuss the Government's Green Paper on trade union immunities.

Mr. Waddington

No specific meeting has yet been fixed. But my right hon. Friend is ready to meet the TUC at any time to discuss the Green Paper on trade union immunities.

58. Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he plans to meet the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the Government's proposals on trade union immunities.

Mr. Waddington

My right hon. Friend hopes to discuss the Green Paper on trade union immunities with the CBI when it has had an opportunity to consult its members about it. As part of those consultations my right hon. Friend has been invited to address a CBI conference on the Green Paper on 25 March.

63. Sir Nicholas Bonsor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had from the Trades Union Congress on the Green Paper on trade union immunities.

Mr. Waddington

The general secretary of the TUC wrote to my right hon. Friend on 4 February asking him to extend the period for consultation on the Green Paper until after the TUC annual congress in September. My right hon. Friend has replied that the period of nearly six months set aside for consultations is already longer than usual in cases of this kind and that it has been accepted by the other bodies concerned, including the CBI. He is, therefore, unable to extend the consultation period beyond the present deadline of 30 June. While it is recognised that the TUC may not be able to submit final comments until after its congress, we should, of course, welcome any views they can let us have before 30 June.