Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 18 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 January 2004. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 January 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make it her policy to ensure that the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry is made mandatory.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to ensure that the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry is made mandatory. [145490] Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government believe that voluntary collective agreements should not be legally enforceable unless all the parties covered by such agreements want it. To do otherwise would undermine the voluntarist nature of collective bargaining in this country and dissuade parties from entering voluntary agreements.

Secondary information