In Edward Heath's government he served as Secretary of State for Employment and was responsible for the modernising Industrial Relations Act 1971, which balanced the introduction of compensation for unfair dismissal with curbs on the freedom to strike and the virtual abolition of closed shop agreements.
I Edward Heath's regering, som han har tjent som minister for beskæftigelse og var ansvarlig for Industrial Relations Act 1971, som afbalanceret indførelse af godtgørelse for uberettiget afskedigelse med nedskæringer på friheden til at strejke og virual afskaffelse af closed shop aftaler.