§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Prime Minister which Government Departments have had any communication at ministerial or Civil Service level with Crothalls, Pritchards or the district health authority about the industrial dispute at Barking hospital.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health has discussed the dispute with the chairman of Redbridge health authority and had an informal conversation with managers of Crothalls, whom he met on a social occasion. My right hon. and learned Friend has therefore kept himself informed on the facts of the dispute but not sought to influence the handling of it by the contractors in any way. Officials of the Department of Health and Social Security receive regular reports on the situation from district management.