§ 14. Mr. LAWRIEasked the Minister of Labour if she has any information in respect of the dispute between the retail newspaper distributors and the proprietors of the big daily newspapers; and if she is taking any steps to bring the parties together?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI have received a communication from the National Federation of Retail Newsagents. My powers under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, do not appear to give me any authority to intervene in the dispute between their members and the newspaper proprietors concerning the terms upon which newspapers are supplied to them.
§ Mr. LAWRIEIs the right hon. Lady aware that most of these newspaper distributors are employed by these firms, that they are engaged on the streets in selling these papers, and that the Rothermere Company, the largest firm and which made practically £1,000,000 profit, are now reducing the pay of these workers to the extent of £60,000 a year?