§ 46. Major COLVILLEasked the Prime Minister if he can snake any statement regarding the action which the Government propose to take as the result of the Report of the Civil Research Committee on the iron and steel trades?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)His Majesty's Government have decided that the most advantageous method of dealing with this report is to consult the industry confidentially in regard to it. A preliminary meeting, at which representatives of the employers and workmen were present, has already been held, and further consultations are in progress.
§ Major COLVILLEIn view of the grave increase of unemployment in the iron and steel industry in the last year, will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the Government will treat this matter as very urgent indeed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, we have done that. As a matter of fact, I myself presided over the conference that has already been held, and we will keep in touch with the whole matter in relation to the general unemployment problem.