$32M Govt ‘subsidy’ for unionists sparks outcry

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 8

$32M Govt ‘subsidy’ for unionists sparks outcry

NZPA London Evidence that trade unions are being subsidised by.the British Government, and an alleged leak of top-secret Cabinet papers to union militants have created a furore for the Prime Minister (Mrs Margaret Thatcher), according to “exclusive" reports in two London newspapers yesterday. Mrs Thatcher was presiding over an army of whitecollar shop stewards which cost the taxpayer millions of pounds, the “Daily Express" said — fuelling criticism over her hard-line approach to trade unions. It said official Whitehall figures estimated that 11.500 civil servants were given paid time off to do union work, at a cost of $32.2 million. This was disputed by members of Parliament who said the true figure was at least twice that amount, "perhaps as much as 150

million ($ll5 million)." Mrs Thatcher now faces questions in the Commons, in her role as Chief Minister for the Civil Service., put forward by- -a Tory member. Tim Eggar. who said: "Taxpayers' money should not subsidise union activity." The report came after a survey in the Trade and Industry Department covering 15,000 employees. The “Express" reported that civil service chiefs conservatively estimated that 250 civil servants were detached full-time on union work in Government departments. and 600 more than half-time. Another 10.500 were allowed paid time off.

The "Sun" yesterday reported allegations that-'docu-ments from a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street were handed out during "lessons" for shop stewards. The newspaper said that the minutes of the meeting showed that Mrs Thatcher

and her Ministers supported nuclear power to break the Stranglehold of miners and transport workers on electricity production. It also reported that the Cabinet discussed a plan to outwit anti-nuclear protesters by saying as little as possible about the programme for nuclear expansion.

The “Sun" said that a Transport and General Workers' Union shop steward gave his copy of the Cabinet committee report on economic strategy to the newspaper after copies had been distributed during a trade union training course at Northern College in Yorkshire. The minutes recorded a meeting held on October 23. 1979, with Sir Geoffry Howe. Sir Keith Joseph. James Prior. Michael Heseltine. David Howell. Lord Soames. Peter Walker. John Nott, and John Biffen as the Cabinet

Ministers present. Mrs Thatcher, told about the breach of security, had ordered an investigation, the "Sun" reported, but the "mole" had not been found.

Having been plagued by alleged leaks before, she had now taken new measures to tighten Cabinet security. “There is a complete ban of minutes on sensitive issues. Instead there is just a bare record of what action is proposed. There is also a ban on the circulation of minutes on some vital policy.

“These new measures have increased grumbles by ‘wets' that the Cabinet is being increasingly excluded from several important decisions." the “Sun" said.

The shop steward who gave the newspaper his copy of the minutes clearly marked “secret and confidential" said he was “worried about national security." the newspaper reported.