§ Mr. CROOKSI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make to the House with regard to the dispute at Woolwich?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn view of misleading statements which have appeared, and in order to prevent any misunderstanding of the facts out of which this serious question has arisen, two points should be made clear: (1) The contract under which the labour to which exception has been taken was employed is a triennial contract for jobbing work made in 1912 and running until 1915. Works of various kinds have been executed under this contract during the whole period of the dispute in the London building trade, and no question as to the character of the labour employed had been raised until last week; and (2) the men left their work without notice and without representing their grievance through the proper channels. It would have been only fair to the Government, as to any other employer, that this should be done before resort was had to the ultimate weapon of a strike, and, if the usual and reasonable course had been taken, the way would have been much clearer to an agreed solution. The Government have decided to appoint a Court of Inquiry, consisting of five persons, of whom two will be representative employers and two representative trade unionists, with Sir George Askwith as chairman, to inquire into and report on the cause and circumstances of the dispute now in progress at Woolwich Arsenal.
§ Mr. CROOKSMay I ask if the whole of the men are entitled to return to work 888 pending this inquiry; also whether Entwhistle may go in to work, subject, of course, to developments later on; and has the right hon. Gentleman really seriously thought of what this means to the whole of the Government employés in the Kingdom? I can assure him that the whole thing might be settled in two or three hours if the men might return to work. The whole trouble was due to the victimisation of one man.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSBefore the Prime Minister replies, may I ask whether the men can resume work during the inquiry, or will they have to remain out until such time as the inquiry will report; and whether the inquiry will be of a specific character on the points at issue now?
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANHow long is the inquiry likely to last? May I point out that the wages of these men will be over £12,000 a week, and it seems rather a waste of time—
§ Mr. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ Colonel LOCKWOODHas the Prime Minister considered the possibility of the Government executing such jobs as this on their own account with their own men, instead of employing contractors?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is exactly one of the points which will come before this inquiry. As far as the Government are concerned, there is no reason why work should not be resumed upon the general business of the Arsenal, as the Government are willing that the work particularly affected should be in abeyance pending the Report of the Court of Inquiry. There is no objection to this workman returning to work pending the Report of the Inquiry.
§ Mr. CROOKSDo I understand that Entwhistle may go in at once, so far as the Government are concerned?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPending the Report of the inquiry.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEDo I understand the Prime Minister to say that one question for the inquiry will be to consider whether the Government will do their own work direct, and, if it is so, will they consider the desirability of taking over the other work that is stopped now in other departments as well?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThose are all points which will be matters of consideration for the Court of Inquiry. I would rather not in any way prejudge the result.