Belongs in
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the bask
MUCH harmful and useless legislation had been passed by this Government, Mr Marcus Fox, the BAR Parliamentary adviser, told BAR members at their conference on Tuesday.
Some of it had been particularly harmful to BAR members, especially those who operate family businesses.
"Deep concern has been felt over the Dock Work Regulation Bill," said Mr Fox, "but two defeats suffered by the Government last week have drawn the teeth of the Bill."
"I am hopeful," concluded Mr Fox, "that this Bill is on its way to where it belongs — the wastepaper basket."
Mr Fox said that Hugh Wilson, BAR's general secretary, had been consulted following a Parliamentary question from Mr Fox. This was evidence that BAR was being taken much more seriously.
The collapse of QRS in the Midlands and the Seven Seas Company in Southampton provided BAR with a chance to make membership a prized matter.
Replying to a question from Roy Walker, a former president of the BAR, concerning the inadequacy of the Confederation of British Industry as a major partner in industrial relations legislation, Mr Fox said that if the Conservative Party had been properly advised it would still be in office.
Mr Brian Gould, Labour MP for Southampton Test, said that he and Mr Bruce George, MP, had had numerous letters following the collapse of Seven Seas and QRS. Each MP was concerned about the effects on constituents who had emigrated to Australia and New Zealand and were still waiting for furniture.
The migrant press was being urged to vet advertisers, and the Post Office to have more regard for the probity of firms advertising in the Yellow Pages. And Mr Gould called for licensing provisions across the board to prevent a recurrence of this type of scandal.