§ 54. Mr. NAYLORasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the cause of the delay in presenting the 1877 Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the working of Government printing establishments, who, according to a reply given on the 10th June, 1925, completed the taking of evidence on the 18th December, 1924; who, according to a further reply given on the 28th July, 1925, were considering their Report, which it was hoped would be presented to the House before the end of the year at least; who, in March of this year, were to meet again to consider the Report as soon as it had been printed; and whether he can now state definitely when the Report will be presented to the House?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)I understand that the revised draft of the Report is now ready for printing, and that the Committee will be meeting shortly to consider it. I am not able to state the cause of the delay, or when the Report will be presented to the House.
§ 55. Mr. NAYLORasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the chapel representatives of the unions whose members are employed at His Majesty's Stationery Office printing establishments have been deprived of the privilege of collecting members' contributions in the works, as is the general custom of the trade; will he state for what reason this practice has been vetoed by the management; and whether he will make representations to the management with a view to this privilege being restored, in conformity with the Prime Minister's appeal to employers generally?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe collection at the works of contributions from the members of trade unions employed at His Majesty's Stationery Office printing establishments has not been prohibited, but such collection is no longer allowed to be made during official hours or in the workshops, etc.; this change in practice has been made in order to bring His Majesty's Stationery Office printing establishments in this respect into conformity with the rules and regulations applying to Government workshops and factories generally. Moreover, I understand that it is not the general custom of the printing trade to allow the collection of trade union members' contributions during working hours on the factory premises. 1878 I am not prepared to give instructions for the alteration of the present arrangement.
§ Mr. NAYLORAre we to understand by the reply given by the right hon. Gentleman that the unions are now permitted to collect contributions on the premises after working hours.
§ Mr. McNEILLYes, that is so.