6Machinery for settling terms and conditions of employment etc.
(1)Except in so far as it is satisfied that adequate machinery exists for achieving the purposes of this section, it shall be the duty of each Corporation to consult any relevant trade union with a view to the conclusion between the Corporation and any such trade union of such agreements as appear to the parties to be desirable with respect to the establishment and maintenance of machinery for the purposes specified in subsection (2) below.
(2)The purposes referred to in subsection (1) above are—
(a)the settlement by negotiation of terms and conditions of employment of persons employed by the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
(b)the resolution of trade disputes, within the meaning of the [1974 c. 52.] Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974,
(c)the promotion and encouragement of measures affecting efficiency, in any respect, in the carrying on of their activities by the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, and
(d)the discussion of other matters of mutual interest to the parties to the agreements.
(3)Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting either Corporation or any wholly owned subsidiary of either Corporation from taking part together with other employers or organisations of employers in the establishment and maintenance of machinery for any of the purposes set out in subsection (2) above.