22. Mr. C LOUGHasked the Minister of Labour what is the number of men who are unemployed in consequence of the moulders' strike, and if he can divide the total into those who are actually moulders and into those who are directly or indirectly dependent on their work; and whether he can inform the House if there is any likelihood of a settlement?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe total number of workpeople actually on strike (including moulders, coremakers, and dressers) is about 45,000. No definite statistics are available as to the number of other workpeople unemployed as a result of the 901 strike, but it is estimated, on the basis of such information as is in the possession of the Min0istry, that it is roughly about 75,000. I understand that, in view of the recent award of the Interim Court of Arbitration for the Engineering Trades, negotiations between the parties concerned are being reopened.
§ Sir E. CARSONAre those who are thrown out of work by reason of this strike, through no fault of their own, receiving out-of-work pay?
§ Mr. WARDLEIf the right hon. Gentleman will wait, there is a question on the Paper about that.
§ Mr. WARDLEIf the hon. Member refers to my answer, he will see that I say "there were hopes of negotiations being reopened."
§ Mr. A. HENDERSONIs the hon. Member not aware that, on the promulgation of the recent award, the executive of the three unions concerned in the strike offered to the employers to resume negotiations on the basis of the award?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am not quite aware of the circumstances of the offer, but that some negotiations were offered I am aware, and I believe there is something being done to reopen negotiations at the present moment.
Mr. J. JONESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Scottish moulders are now handing in notices? Is not that likely to complicate the situation?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am not aware of it.
32. Mr. DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the approximate number of persons who have been thrown out of work by the ironmoulders' strike; whether it is his intention to give such sufferers unemployed benefit as was done during the recent Yorkshire miners' strike; and, if not, if he will give his reasons for granting it in the one ease and refusing it in the other?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe total number of workpeople actually on strike—including moulders, coremakers, and dressers—is about 45,000. No definite statistics are available as to the number of other workpeople unemployed as a result of the 902 strike, but it is estimated, on the basis of such information as is in the possession of the Ministry, that it is roughly about 75,000. These latter workpeople are entitled to out-of-work donation if they are not disqualified by the general rule applicable to unemployment arising out of a trade dispute, and a large number of them are in fact drawing donation. The general rule referred to is precisely the same as that applied during the Yorkshire miners' strike.
§ Sir E. CARSONIs it not a fact that the rule is that all those who are indirectly affected draw unemployment pay, and those who are directly affected do not draw it; and where both are equally innocent, how does the hon. Gentleman justify the distinction between the two?
§ Mr. WARDLEThat is not for me to say. It is a statutory provision of the Unemployment Insurance Act, and it requires legislation to alter it.
§ Sir E. CARSONThen we ought to have it.