§ Mr. Martinasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy when permitting the circulation of material in working time to civil servants in connection with trade union elections, to seek to ensure that equal opportunities are provided for each candidate to circulate material; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeSuch equal opportunities are provided under the terms of the Civil Service National Whitley Council agreement on facilities which allows unions representing non-industrial civil servants to send, under cover, correspondence to their members through Departments' internal distribution systems. They may also use the inter-departmental dispatch service for delivery of mail. It is the responsibility of individual unions to ensure the proper conduct of elections including opportunities for candidates to circulate material to members.
§ Mr. Martinasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to meet the leaders of trade unions representing civil servants to discuss the facilities provided to facilitate union elections; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI have no such plans. There are well established arrangements for allowing facilities for civil service union elections under the terms of the Civil Service National Whitley Council agreement on facilities for industrial relations duties and trade union activities in the non-industrial Civil Service.