§ 11. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Minister of Labour whether she can make a statement as to the present position of the wool textile industry; and whether effect is now to be given to the recommendations contained in Lord Macmillan's Report?
§ 12. Mr. WISEasked the Minister of Labour what action her Department has taken and proposes to take to avert the threatened stoppage in the Yorkshire textile industry?
§ 22. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Minister of Labour whether she proposes to take any action with a view to effecting a settlement in the dispute now proceeding in the woollen industry?
27. Mr. BENRILEYasked the Minister of Labour whether she is aware that the employers in the woollen and worsted industries in the West Riding of Yorkshire have posted notices in their factories this week giving a week's notice to their operatives of a general reduction in wages; that these notices affect some 200,000 operatives; that the operatives' unions have issued instructions to their 1437 members to cease work on the termination of the notices; and whether, in view of the pending situation in the woollen industry, she has under consideration any action with a view to inviting the parties to the dispute to postpone the notices?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs hon. Members are aware, efforts to reach a settlement of this dispute by agreement or by reference to arbitration had previously failed. With the agreement of both sides of the Joint Industrial Council for the industry I appointed a Court of Inquiry in January under Part II of the Industrial Courts Act, and the report of this Inquiry was recently published. I do not think I ought to make any comment on the present position beyond expressing my hope that a general dislocation in this important industry may yet be avoided.
§ Mr. LEACHIs the Minister aware of the fact that the employers have refused arbitration all along?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Lady has said that she prefers not to make any further statement on the subject.