§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the state of industrial relations in the railway industry. [1022]
§ Mr. SpellarIndustrial disputes are properly matters for the employers and the trade unions to resolve.
Successful negotiation between the train operators and the trade unions avoided strike action in all but one of the 25 train operating companies on 25 June. We would greatly regret any possible further industrial action on the railway which would cause yet more inconvenience to passengers.