§ MR. BECKETT (York, N.R., Whitby)I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is true, as announced in the papers this morning, that Her Majesty's Government propose to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the 1474 relations between employers and employed; and whether he can state what will be the scope of the Inquiry and the particular questions which will be submitted to the Commission?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)It is true that Her Majesty's Government intend to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission, with the object generally stated by my hon. Friend. I shall be prepared, in the course of a few days, to state the terms of the Reference to the Royal Commission to the House; but I may say generally that the object we have in view is to institute an independent and careful inquiry into the causes of the differences between employers and employed which have produced such painful results during the past year, and also to inquire whether it is desirable or possible to introduce legislation on the subject.
§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman give the names of the Commissioners?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHAs the Commission was only decided on last Saturday, it will hardly be expected that Her Majesty's Government has as yet determined on the names of the Commissioners.
§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)Is it intended that the Royal Commission should in any way interfere with the Select Committee which it has been resolved shall inquire into the hours of labour of railway servants?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHCertainly not.
§ MR. BROADHURSTWill Her Majesty's Government consult the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Unions in reference to the terms of the proposed Reference?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHHer Majesty's Government will be glad to receive suggestions from any quarter; but the hon. Gentleman will see that if Her Majesty's Government were to undertake to consult any particular body, either on the part of employers or employed, they would be placing themselves in a position of some difficulty. The Government must act on their own responsibility in this matter.
§ MR. O. V. MORGAN (Battersea)Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that one half of the Members of the Royal Commission shall be closely 1475 connected with the labour interest of the country; not employers like myself, but men who have lived by the labour of their hands?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. LEES KNOWLES (Salford, W.)Will questions relating to coal mines come within the scope of the Inquiry?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONWill the terms of the Reference to the Royal Commission come before the House, so that they can be amended if necessary?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThis is not usual in the case of Royal Commissions. The terms of the Reference will be placed before the House. That is all that I can undertake.
§ MR. CAUSTON (Southwark, W.)Is it the intention of the Government to limit the time during which the Commission will sit and report?
§ SIR J. SWINBURNE (Staffordshire, Lichfield)Will the Commission be instructed to inquire into the hours of labour in coal mines underground?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIn answer to my hon. Friend the Member for West Salford, and also in answer to the hon. Member for Lichfield, it certainly is not intended to exclude from the scope of the Commission questions relating to mines. No term will be placed on the sittings of the Commission. It would be improper to fix a limit upon the sittings of the Commission, or to determine what evidence they are to take.