§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ 9.45 p.m.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSPerhaps I might seek further to elucidate the point which I raised earlier. This Clause specifies three particular trade unions. I have no wish, as I am sure the Attorney-General realises, to make any difficulty in this matter, but we heard just now that there was to be some effort to reach agreement in this connection. I wish to ask him, if, in the course of those conversations, he finds it advisable that some representation should be given to that large body of people who are outside these three very excellent trade unions he will take steps to secure that representation. I ask him to consider between now and the Report stage putting in some provision either in this Clause or elsewhere in the Bill to deal with those people.
§ The ATTORNEY - GENERALThe question of the hon. Member is so hypothetical that I find a difficulty in answering it. In effect, he asks me, if there should be some persons outside these three unions who desire to be represented—
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThere are.
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALHe asks what I propose to do regarding those people. I do not know what the number of such persons may be, or what their bond of union may be or what sort of representation they desire. I am afraid I must leave it to my hon. Friend to frame some Amendment on the point if he thinks fit, for the Report stage.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThe Attorney-General said that he was going to deal with this matter between now and the Report stage. These people who have been mentioned by the hon. Member for Richmond (Sir W. Ray) and other hon. Members this evening are I take it, a considerable body. I am not trying to raise any difficulties in connection with the negotiations upon this point, but it is up to some of us here to see, that if there is a body of people not concerned with the unions mentioned in this Clause, they should have some kind of representation, direct or indirect. I am trying to put it to the Attorney-General as peaceably as I can that he should consider the case of these people with the hon. Member for Richmond, or with whoever else it may be desirable to consult.
§ Mr. MAITLANDIs it not quite clear that the Amendment put down by the hon. Member for Richmond (Sir W. Ray) on Clause 70 dealing with the excepted employés covers the point which the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) has in mind l If there is any arrangement of the kind suggested the proposal in that Amendment will be covered in the new Clauses or Amendments introduced on the Report stage to deal with the point.
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALWe have no desire to keep anything back, but if the Committee will trust me I shall try with the help of the Minister and of the hon. Member for Richmond (Sir W. Ray) and the hon. Member for Greenwich (Sir G. Hume) to devise something which will be satisfactory to the persons concerned.