§ 42. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the dispute between the General Accident, Fire, and Life Assurance Company and its employés on the question of the right of the employés to combine in a union; whether he is aware that prior to the dispute the union or guild strongly advocated the setting up of a Whitley Council for the insurance profession, thereby demonstrating their wish to pursue their work by conciliatory means; whether any steps were taken by his Department to promote the establishment of a Whitley Council; whether he has ascertained if any Government property is insured with the Corporation; and whether he is taking any steps to secure a settlement of the dispute?
§ 41. Mr. HOGGEasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the strike of insurance officials on the ground that the General Accident, Fire, and Life Assurance Corporation, Limited, have refused to employ members of the Guild of Insurance Officials; and, if so, whether he can see his way to use his good offices for the purpose of settling the dispute?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am aware of this dispute. I am at present in communication with the Corporation, and with my hon. Friends' permission I would prefer not to make a statement on the matter at this moment. On the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for West Nottingham, the Department has had informal discussions with representatives of insurance companies on the subject of Whitley Councils, but such councils can only be set up with the consent of the interested parties, and hitherto the com panics have not seen their way to agree. I have no information on the point as to whether any Government property is insured with this particular Corporation.
§ Mr. HAYDAYHas any communication been received by the Prime Minister from the men involved in this dispute seeking leave by deputation to lay their case before him?
§ Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)I cannot say. If any communication has been received by my right hon. Friend I have had no notice of it.
§ Mr. HAYDAYIn view of the keen disappointment felt, not only by men in the ranks of the Guild of Insurance Officials, but by the Rank Officers' Guild and similar associations, at the non-setting-up of the Whitley Councils, will the Labour Minister be prepared to receive a deputation in order that this subject may be thoroughly gone into before the discontent becomes acute?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs to the dispute itself I am in communication with the Corporation in the hope of bringing the parties together, and therefore I should prefer not to make any further statement at present. With regard to the general question of the establishment of Whitley Councils, I have no authority to compel it; it is a matter for the parties concerned. I am willing to receive a deputation from either side or both sides on the question.
§ Mr. HAYDAYCan we say it is the set purpose of the Labour Ministry to encourage the establishment of Whitley Councils, and will they use whatever moral suasion they possess to get employers to see more reason than they now evidently show?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is the policy of the Government to develop the spirit of "Whitleyism," the application of which has already been attended with happy results.
§ Mr. W. THORNEThis is the tyranny of the bosses and not of the trade unions.