asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to advise Scottish local authorities of the desirability of holding a secret ballot of employees before introducing any closed shop arrangements within their authorities; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Government have consistently maintained a position of neutrality on the question of closed shop agreements: they believe that whether, how and in what form they should be introduced is a matter to be determined between employers and trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many regional authorities in Scotland have made trade union membership a condition of employment; and if he will indicate, in the case of each regional authority, the date on which the decision was made and the exclusions which are permitted.

The information is not readily available. We do not monitor the establishment or operation of closed shop agreements in either the public or private sector.