§ Mr. ROSE (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the lockout of the whole of the trawl fishermen of Aberdeen by the trawl owners on account of the men's claims to be released from duty for twenty-four hours after each trip in order to visit their wives and families; if he knows that the lockout has now lasted over nine weeks, that over 200 trawlers are laid up, that the average of fish values (when working) amount to £500 per boat per week and the aggregate tonnage 300 tons per day; that the lockout affects 8,000 people, 80 per cent, of whom are men and women discharged from Army and Navy work, and whether in view of the serious circumstances he is taking or has in contemplation any active measures to effect a settlement?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Robert Horne)Yes, Sir; I am aware of this regrettable dispute. An officer of my Department has been in continuous touch with the situation, has arranged several meetings of the parties and attended numerous conferences, but up to the present all efforts to find a basis for settlement have failed. The hon. Member may be assured that these efforts will be continued, and that my Department will do all in its power to bring the dispute to an end. No compulsory powers exist, and offers to refer the difference to arbitration have not been accepted.
§ Mr. ROSEMay I ask my right hon. Friend if any reports have reached him 47 since he received notice of my question, whether his attention has been called to statements in the Scottish public Press to the effect, that, if a compromise has not been exactly effected, it has been proposed with the hope of ending this unfortunate strike, and whether the prospects are not happier than they were when I sent him notice?
LORD-ADVOCATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Clyde)I am not perfectly certain of the relation in time of my hon. Friend's question and my information, but what I have stated is the latest information that I have, and I am daily in touch with the matter.