HC Deb 05 July 1988 vol 136 cc513-4W
163. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for his policy on trade union membership of the progress of deunionisation at Government communications headquarters.

Mr. Mellor

There are no implications for our policy on trade union membership. The changes in the conditions of services at GCHQ were introduced solely in the interests of national security. They are not anti-union. All GCHQ staff are free to join the GCHQ Staff Federation, which is listed as a trade union under the terms of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974.