No-Strike Agreement

Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 July 1979.

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Photo of Mr Kenneth Lewis Mr Kenneth Lewis , Rutland and Stamford 12:00, 18 July 1979

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what discussions he has had with leaders of the trade unions covering the Civil Service with a view to securing a no-strike agreement within the Civil Service.

Photo of Mr Paul Channon Mr Paul Channon , Southend West

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him yesterday.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Lewis Mr Kenneth Lewis , Rutland and Stamford

It was a surprise to me when I got an answer twice. There is a feeling among the general public that the limited agreement that my hon. Friend is seeking to reach does not go far enough. There is a feeling among the public that the public service is no longer—

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West

Order. The hon. Gentleman knows that he must ask a question and not give information.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Lewis Mr Kenneth Lewis , Rutland and Stamford

Is the Minister aware that the public feel that the public service generally, including the Civil Service, now goes on strike too easily at the drop of a file? If the Civil Service wants the privileges and all the advantages that it possesses, it should show loyalty to the public and to the Crown.

Photo of Mr Paul Channon Mr Paul Channon , Southend West

I have a great deal of sympathy with that view. As I said to my hon. Friend yesterday, I hope that it may be possible to conclude no-strike agreements in a few essential services. We shall certainly examine the position of the Civil Service in the light of this decision.

Photo of Mr John Evans Mr John Evans , Newton

Does the Minister accept that a fundamental part of democracy is the right to strike? Is he also aware that within the engineering profession of the Civil Service there is a great deal of ill feeling at the way that the Government are handling its pay claim? If the Government wish to create a society based on good engineers and scientists, why do they not settle this claim?

Photo of Mr Paul Channon Mr Paul Channon , Southend West

There is a later question on that very point. I note the views expressed by the hon. Gentleman in the first part of his question. There is also some obligation on those in the public sector to try to serve the public and not to inconvenience it if it can genuinely be avoided.

Photo of Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke , Darwen

Whatever the idea of a no-strike agreement may be, what sort of sanction does my hon. Friend think he can write into such an agreement, and how enforceable would such a sanction be?

Photo of Mr Paul Channon Mr Paul Channon , Southend West

Those are some of the problems that I have in mind, and I shall seek my hon. and learned Friend's advice before proceeding further.