HC Deb 10 December 1996 vol 287 cc111-2W
Sir Roger Moate

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the effective annual contribution of the United Kingdom to the International Labour Organisation; what assessment she has made of the benefits of the United Kingdom from membership of that organisation; and what periodic reviews of the United Kingdom's membership are conducted. [7976]

Mr. Paice

Some £9,006,587, or 5.24 per cent., of the ILO's budget, in 1996. The Government review Britain's membership of all UN agencies, including the ILO, on a regular basis.

Sir Roger Moate

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many complaints have been made by the International Labour Organisation against(a) United Kingdom trades union and employment legislation and (b) British companies in the last 10 years. [7975]

Mr. Paice

In the last 10 years, about 35 representations have been made to the ILO on UK trade union and employment legislation, including four on its implementation by British companies and industries. All these representations were made by the TUC. Only five of the issues concerned have been debated at the ILO conference. There have been no representations by employer organisations.

Sir Roger Moate

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response she has made to the charges made by the International Labour Organisation about the alleged unfairness of United Kingdom trade union legislation; what assessment she has made of the procedures in the International Labour Organisation for examining allegations from trade unions about British employers; and what steps are taken by the United Kingdom Government to ensure that proper representations are made in response. [7977]

Mr. Paice

The Government respond fully to all comments made by the ILO supervisory bodies on their legislation through the normal reporting machinery. They have explained why they believe nothing in British law and practice is incompatible with our obligations under ratified ILO conventions. The UK has been at the forefront of moves to streamline and modernise the ILO's supervisory machinery.