Mr. Mc ENTEE (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Press, to the effect that the Master Builders' Association propose issuing lock-out Notices to the men engaged in the building trades: and whether his Department proposes to take any steps to prevent a stoppage in view of the serious consequences that would 721 result to the nation, as a consequence of such stoppage in building at the present time?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have been keeping in close touch with the situation indicated in the hon. Member's question, and shall continue to do so. I do not think I can usefully add more at the present moment.
§ Mr. McENTEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the men are now working under a sliding scale based on the cost of living, and that they have already forfeited voluntarily 1½d. an hour to.which they are at present entitled; and is he also aware that the present action of the Master Builders' Federation is a direct breach of the existing agreement which they have signed?
§ Sir M. BARLOWAll those are matters of argument, and I think that, in the present. state of the negotiations, it would be very much better not to discuss those, points on the Floor of the House.
§ Mr. McENTEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the representatives of the men are very anxious again to meet the Master Builders' Federation, with a view to arriving at a settlement, if possible, and will he, in view of that fact, use his influence with the Master Builders' Federation to bring about such a meeting'?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have already given the assurance that I shall keep.in very close touch with, the situation. I am sure that no one is more anxious than every Member of this House that some satisfactory solution should be arrived at.