§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the needs for a statutory system to establish a trade union's right to represent its members in negotiations with an employer, and what has been his response.
§ Mr. NichollsI recently received a letter on this matter from the general secretary of the Banking, Insurance and Finance Union. My reply made clear the Government's view that it is for the individual employer to decide whether, and in what cirumstances, to recognise a trade union for collective bargaining purposes. Experience with the statutory recognition procedures contained in the Employment Protection Act 1975 and repealed by the Employment Act 1980 showed them to be highly unsatisfactory in practice.