§ 45. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether the committee of the Federation of British Industries has yet been consulted in regard to any legislation affecting industry; and, if it has not been so consulted, why this has not been done, in view of its importance as the largest representative body of industry in the country?
§ Mr. HODGEThe Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question, and I would refer the lion, and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kirkdale, Liverpool, on the 22nd May.
§ 46. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether, with a view of preventing strikes and labour unrest, he will consider the advisability of ascertaining the views of both the committee of the Federation of British Industries and the trade unions, and also of creating a representative committee drawn from both these organisations to deal with questions affecting labour, so that if possible any disputes may be settled amicably between them before being investigated by the Government?
§ Mr. HODGEThe Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. As the hon. Member will be aware, conciliation boards and other machinery for the settlement of disputes exist in a large number of the most important industries of the country whereby disputes are considered and frequently settled before being reported to the Government Department concerned. The Chief Indus- 954 trial Commissioner's Department are in constant touch with the trade unions and the employers' associations in connection with the settlement of trade disputes, and the Minister is quite prepared to consider any proposals which responsible employers' associations and trade unions may put before him with a view to preventing stoppages of work and the settlement of differences.
§ Major NEWMANHas the Federation of British Industries put forward any suggestions to the Ministry of Labour or any other Ministry?