Shop Stewards (Hansard, 23 November 1987)

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will give a breakdown by age of the numbers of people attending shop steward training coures in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what information he has about the incidence of (a) Trade Union Congress regional education officers being asked to advise upon the selection of candidates for tutors on shop steward training courses which are government-funded and (b) Trade Union Congress personnel sitting on the interview or selection panel for such vacancies;
(3) if he will give a breakdown by subject of the: numbers of shop stewards undertaking training courses at. Government expense; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will estimate the total number of working days; lost due to shop stewards' attendances at Government-funded training courses in any one year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
This information is not available to my right hon. Friend.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether colleagues participating in Government-funded courses for shop stewards are required to provide a balanced curriculum and system of visiting speakers: and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
The memorandum of arrangements governing Government funded trade union education and training courses specifies in detail the subject areas which eligible courses must cover. It also requires the Trades Union Congress to seek departmental approval of any proposals for additions or amendments to the content of courses. A system of visiting speakers is not specified.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make it his policy to phase out the grant currently paid to the Trade Union Congress for the training of shop stewards; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
A decision on continuation of the grant to the Trades Union Congress is taken annually by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and Employment. They determined earlier this year that the grant should continue for the financial year 1987–88.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total level of Government grant paid to the trade Union Congress in each of the last five years for which figures are available for the cost of training courses for shop stewards; and what is the purpose for which this is intended.

Mr. Jackson
Total grant paid to the Trades Union Congress in each of the last five years was as follows:

£

1982–83 1,598,570

1983–84 1,545,725

1984–85 1,542,239

1985–86 1,695,510

1986–87 1,704,000

11W
Public funding, introduced in 1976, is intended to enhance the quantity and quality of education and training of trades union representatives, and so to gain a better informed work force and improved industrial relations.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many shop stewards have undertaken training courses at Government expense in each of the last eight years.

Mr. Jackson
This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the fees charged by colleges for running shop steward training courses cover the cost of those courses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
The fees charged by colleges for running shop steward training courses are a matter between the colleges and the trade unions. They are not directly related to the Government's rate of grant.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there is a requirement for colleges undertaking shop steward training courses at Government expense to have their subject matter approved first by the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
The memorandum of arrangements governing Government funded trade union education and training courses specifies in detail the subject areas which eligible courses must cover. This includes democracy at work; the role of members and representatives in industrial relations, including negotiation and consultation; health and safety issues; and the importance of economic realities in the functioning of industry and commerce. The Government expect the Trades Union Congress to ensure that the courses funded meet the requirements of the memorandum of arrangements.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards the use of Government-funded shop steward training courses to promote the unionisation of school children; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
Government funding is made available to unions affiliated to the Trade Union Congress or registered as non-affiliated trade unions for the education and training of representatives of these unions. It is not available for the promotion of trade union activities. If my hon. Friend has information that such funds are being used to promote the unionisation of school children, my right hon. Friend would be concerned to know about it.

	£
1982–83	1,598,570
1983–84	1,545,725
1984–85	1,542,239
1985–86	1,695,510
1986–87	1,704,000