53. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the resolution passed on the 23rd July by the conference of the triple alliance of miners, railwaymen, and transport workers with a view to the adoption of industrial action to enforce certain political demands; if he can state the number of workers affected by this resolution and the number who will actually be afforded an opportunity of casting an independent and secret vote; if he can state the form of ballot paper that has been or is proposed to be issued; and if he will state whether adequate measures are being taken to bring home to the workers concerned, and the nation generally, what are the issues involved and to ensure that the Government will be in a position to deal with any emergency that may arise and prevent a repetition of what has just occurred in Yorkshire and elsewhere through unpreparedness?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Wardle)I have been asked to reply to this question. I have seen in the public Press the resolution referred to. The membership of the three trade unions in question, namely, the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, the National Transport Workers' Federation, and the National Union of Railway men, is, perhaps, about 1,600,000. I have no information as to the form of ballot paper or method of voting. The considerations mentioned in the last part of the question are not being overlooked.