HC Deb 12 May 1986 vol 97 c346W
52. Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take against civil servants at Government communications headquarters who have rejoined a trade union.

Mr. Renton

Employees at GCHQ who have informed management that they have rejoined unions have been sent letters informing them that they will be subject to disciplinary proceedings for being in breach of their terms and conditions of service.

The director of GCHQ has advised the Head of the Civil Service that on present information he does not regard dismissal as an appropriate penalty in the proposed proceedings for those who have rejoined a union in the circumstances of the past months unless there are factors of which he is unaware.