§ 74. Lord ALEXANDER THYNNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Port of London Authority were invited, and declined, to send representatives to a conference of local authorities, held under the auspices of the Garden City and Town Planning Association, to discuss the provision of housing accommodation for the workmen engaged on the new docks now in process of construction by the Port of London Authority; what steps that authority has taken to ensure that such workmen are housed under suitable conditions; and whether the Board of Trade has taken any action in the matter?
Mr. ROBERTSONI am informed by the Port of London Authority that they were invited to send representatives to such a conference, but that they saw no reason for doing so, the Authority not regarding themselves as being under any obligation to provide housing accommodation for the workmen engaged in the work of constructing the dock, which is being carried out under contract. The Board of Trade have no power to take any action in the matter.
§ Lord ALEXANDER THYNNEMay I ask whether the Board of Trade endorse the view taken by the Port of London Authority upon this very important matter, and, if they do not endorse that view, will they bring pressure to bear upon the Port of London Authority to assume this responsibility?
Mr. ROBERTSONThat is a matter of legal obligation, and I think there is no doubt the Board of Trade have no power to use any pressure upon the Port of London Authority.