§ 66. Sir GEORGE BERRYasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that the Macmillan award relating to the wool textile trade dispute has been disregarded, she will introduce legislation in the interests of peace by which to make it incumbent upon all parties to an industrial dispute appearing before an arbitrator to give adequate penalty bonds to ensure that awards shall be observed, and that the referring of a dispute to arbitration shall be accepted by all parties as rendering the award binding upon them and enforceable in His Majesty's Courts of Law?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe hon. Member is doubtless aware that the appointment of a court of inquiry under Part II of the Industrial Courts Act is to be distinguished from compulsory arbitration. The acceptance of awards, when the parties to a dispute have voluntarily agreed to arbitration, is a prominent feature of our industrial life, and there is no experience, either in this country or abroad, which indicates that any useful purpose would be served by the substitution of compulsion for our present voluntary system. 1770 Moreover, the general opinion of organisations of employers and employed is opposed to compulsory arbitration.