§ Mr. ANDERSON(by Private —Notice) asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that a very serious situation has been created among the aircraft workers by reason of the fact that the agreement entered into between his Department and the National Woodworkers' Aircraft Committee, dated 30th October, 1917, and relating to wages, hours of labour, and overtime, has not yet been put into force; whether this delay is due to the obstruction and opposition of certain employers in this industry; and in view of the danger of industrial stoppage within the next few clays, what action the Ministry proposes to take?
§ Mr. KELLAWAY (Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions)The Ministry of Munitions have been in communication with the National Woodworkers' Aircraft Committee, and a meeting with that committee is taking place this afternoon. In these circumstances I hope my hon. Friend will not press for an answer to the various detailed points raised in his question.
§ Mr. ANDERSONI would really like to ask, in view of the very serious position that has been created amongst these workers, whether there is not something very far wrong when an agreement signed on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions by Sir Thomas Munro between three and four months ago has not been put into effect, and can the hon. Gentleman tell us why it has not been put into effect at the present time?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYAs there are very good reasons for hoping that this question will be settled this afternoon satisfactorily to all the parties concerned, it is not desirable to go into the details.