§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received since June 1979 from trade unionists complaining they were denied the right to work by trade union activity; how many were members of a closed shop; and how many alleged that they were pressurised (a) by their trade union and (b)by their employer.
§ Mr. GummerIt is, unfortunately, not possible to identify from among the very large number of representations which we received from ordinary trade union members the precise number of complaints of this kind. Such complaints are, however, regularly received both from trade union members who have been obliged to strike against their will by threats from their union of disciplinary action but also, and, I am glad to say, increasingly, from trade unionists who have resisted such threats. We have drawn their attention to the protection against expulsion from a trade union which is now provided by the 1980 and 1982 Employment Acts and also to the further protection which will result from the introduction on 1 November of the closed shop balloting provisions of the 1982 Act.