§ 69. Mr. DALTONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of men employed by the East Anglian Cement Company, Limited, at Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, are on strike, that the company has refused to enter the National Joint Industrial Council of the cement industry; that the rate of wages offered by the company is only 9½d. an hour, as against a rate of 11¾d. an hour agreed on by the council; that the men have offered to submit their case to arbitration; that this offer has been refused by the company: and whether he has already taken, or proposes to take, any action in the matter?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am aware of the dispute to which the hon. Member refers. My Department has been in touch with the parties but it has not yet 1316 been possible to reach a settlement. The services of the Department are still available if the parties desire to utilise them for the purpose of reaching an amicable settlement.