§ 31. Sir SAMUEL SCOTTasked the Home Secretary whether he can give the names, nationality, ages, and war service of the leaders in the strikes which have recently taken place in Belfast, on the Clyde, and in London?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no official information, and as some of the persons referred to are awaiting trial I do not think it would be desirable for me to say anything which might prejudice their trial.
§ 35. Lieutenant-Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Labour whether, for the purpose of obviating trouble regarding the question of the hours of labour and of eliciting public opinion in each trade on this subject, he will, with a view to legislation, take steps to arrange a conference in each representative trade and industry?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe question of hours of labour has within the last few weeks formed the subject of discussion between employers and workpeople in a large number of the principal trades of the country, and already about 3,000,000 workpeople are covered by agreements for reduced working hours which have become operative since the 1st January of this year. A further 2,000,000 workpeople are concerned in negotiations that are now in progress in the various trades. The negotiations have taken place between the organisations of employers and workpeople in each trade, and the matter is clearly one which the trades must be allowed to endeavour to discuss and settle for themselves. If there is failure to settle, the services of the Ministry of Labour are at the disposal of the parties.
Sir F. HALLMay I ask whether, when the discussion took place, attention was given to the enormous increase in the cost of articles compared to the extra wage given?
§ Mr. WARDLEI have not been present as the discussions, which have been between the representatives of employers and workpeople, who presumably know what they are doing.