§ 2 and 3. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he has yet decided to take any action as a result of the Joint Committee of Inquiry which was set up to consider foreign competition and conditions in the shipbuilding industry, and which issued a Report in June of this year;
(2) If he has investigated the operations of rings and price-fixing associations in the supply of materials; and whether he is taking any action with a view to bringing relief to shipbuilding as recommended in the Report of the 1875 Joint Committee of Inquiry which was set up to consider the conditions in the shipbuilding industry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Report of the Joint Committee to which the hon. Member refers has not yet been communicated to me officially, but I understand that it has now been approved by all the organisations represented on the Committee, and I expect to have an opportunity of discussing with the interests concerned the particular parts of the Report to which the hon. Member directs attention.
§ Sir R. THOMASThe right hon. Gentleman gave me a similar answer about three months ago. Having regard to the severe depression in the shipbuilding industry, does he not think it is time something should be done, and done quickly
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am in this difficulty. When the hon. Gentleman asked me the same question several months ago I then said I had not had the Report communicated to me by the people concerned, and they have not yet communicated it to me. I understand they are discussing it, and as soon as I get the Report I propose to take the action which I indicated to the hon. Member.
§ Sir R. THOMASThe right hon. Gentleman has very considerable influence. Will he not bring pressure to bear upon the authorities to supply him with that Report?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir, I do not think I can do that. As I understand it, this Report arises out of a very long series of joint meetings between the shipbuilding employers and a very large number of trade unions concerned with shipbuilding, and I do not think I can intervene in the course of their discussions, but as soon as I get their Report I am ready to consider it.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYHas the right hon. Gentleman been asked to receive, or is he prepared to receive, a deputation from the joint Committee?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not think I have received an application, but I would like notice of that.
§ Mr. KELLYHas the right hon. Gentleman seen and read the Report of that particular Committee, seeing that that Report is completed?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have had the privilege of seeing the form of the Report which, I understand, is going to be submitted to all the constituent bodies, but I cannot very well act upon it as if it were their joint representations, until it has been submitted to them.
§ Mr. KELLYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Report has been submitted to the constituent bodies and, I believe, has been sent to the Board of Trade?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, I am advised that it has not been sent to the Board of Trade.