§ 83. Colonel PENRY WILLIAMSasked the Prime Minister whether he could now make a statement as to the position reached in the negotiations between the Government and the National Union of Railwaymen?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI regret that I am not in a position to make any statement at present.
§ Colonel WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a statement was made on Sunday at a meeting of railwaymen, by a very high official of the railway union, that negotiations were not proceeding satisfactorily, and that that is a very disturbing statement to make to the general public? Cannot he take some steps to give information to the House that will either contradict that or state the Government case?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think negotiations are helped in the least by public statements. It is far better if negotiations are allowed to go on. We shall do our best to come to a satisfactory arrangement, but nothing will be gained by making statements in public.