asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ask the Conciliation and Arbitration Service to seek to resolve the dispute between GEC and ASTMS which has caused a hold up in the installation of telephone equipment in the Maidenhead telephone exchange; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been actively involved in bringing the two sides together. The ASTMS is consulting its members on an improved offer made by the company on Friday 16th May.