§ 58 Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware that there are a large number of non-union lightermen licensed to work upon the River Thames; whether he will take steps to enable them with safety to follow their calling in the area affected by the strike; (59) whether he is aware that there are a large number of watermen ordinarily working on the River Thames who, though not licensed, are fully qualified to discharge the duties of licensed lightermen, and that the Port of London Authority, having regard to that fact, contemplated, even before the present strike, effecting a change in the method of qualifying lightermen and apprentices by licence; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter; (60) whether he is aware that under the existing law the work ordinarily done upon the River Thames by licensed lightermen and apprentices may, without penalty, be entrusted to unlicensed men if the services of 1489 licensed men are not available at the usual rates of remuneration; and whether he has taken any protective steps by which master lightermen may engage unlicensed men for barges without danger of violence to such unlicensed men; and (61) whether he is aware that, at a conference held on the 17th June between representatives of shipowners and representatives of master lightermen upon the River Thames with a view to a resumption of work on lighters within the area affected by the strike, the master lightermen informed the employers that they could not put men upon their barges without risk to their lives because the police protection upon the river was wholly inadequate and the union picketing upon the river was most rigorous; and whether he will take steps so that the master lightermen may man their barges without danger to the men engaged?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe employment of persons other than licensed lightermen to navigate barges on the river is a matter for the Board of Trade, and I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend as regards all his points relating to it. As regards the matters referred to in his last question, I cannot agree with the statement that the police protection on the river was wholly inadequate and that the picketing was most rigorous. Arrangements have been made to increase the police protection on the river.
§ Mr. CARR-GOMMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the points raised in this question are of a highly controversial character and will he allow the House to have some opportunity of expressing an opinion on the matter before he gives any sanction for the enforcement of the by-law in respect to the throwing open of the river?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, but the highly controversial points to which the hon. Member refers are really a matter for the Board of Trade and not for the Home Office.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that before a waterman's licence can be revoked it has to be signed by an Order in Council?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat question should be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade, but I believe the fact to be as the hon. Member states.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHave the Home Office satisfied themselves that the men who are navigating the barges are legally entitled to carry on that work before they give them protection to do so?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, I understand in every case the men who are navigating the barges are legally entitled to navigate them, but many of them would not be legally entitled to be employed after the strike is over.