§ 55. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that under Section 28 of the Port of London Act, 1908, the Port of London Authority are under a statutory obligation to diminish the evils of casual employment, and also in view of the fact that the Port of London Authority are requiring men who have been on their permanent staff to sign a document on their return to work placing them on the Class B or casual labour class, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Port of Landon Authority fulfil their statutory obligation under Section 23 of the Port of London Act?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSection 28 appears to leave considerable discretion to the Port Authority, and opinions may differ as to the best method of carrying it out. The Port of London Act confers no power on the Government to compel the Port Authority to adopt any particular course of action under the Section. Communications have from time to time passed between the Board of Trade and the Port Authority with a view to voluntary cooperation under the Section.
Mr. HAMILTON BENNHave the Port Authority submitted a draft scheme dealing with casual labour more than a year ago, and was that scheme signed by Mr. Gosling on behalf of the men; and have the Government or the Board of Trade given any answer either of assent or dissent to that proposal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat does not come within my own knowledge. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would put a question down.
§ Mr. CROOKSMay I ask whether the answer of the Port Authority on the question raised by the hon. Gentleman opposite was not a distinct declaration of increasing casual labour by the methods they set up and not decreasing it?
§ Mr. W. THORNEHave the Government or the Board of Trade any control over the men who sit upon the Port Authority or Trinity House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a question of which notice should be given.