§ 17. Mr. T. WILLIAMS(for Major MILNER) asked the Minister of Labour whether it is with his authority that the Employment Exchanges in the London area have been circularised to the effect that the dispute in which members of the Tailors and Garment Makers' Union are concerned in Bethnal Green Road, E.2, is at an end ; and if he is aware that in consequence thereof applicants are being sent to apply for work, whereas the dispute still continues?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe procedure laid down for such cases by the Regulations is that the trade union may file a statement at the local exchange that there is a strike or lock-out in existence, whereupon the statement together with any counter-statement by the employer is made known to any person to whom vacancies with that employer are notified by any exchange. No such statement has been filed in this case by the union and the action taken by the exchanges was based on notification from the employer, first that there was a strike at his works and subsequently that he was fully staffed.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the secretary of the trade union did write to the Employment Exchange and received no reply? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that he might very well look into the case?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am glad that the hon. Gentleman has given me an opportunity to say that just before I came here I heard that both sides have now got into communication, and that there is every possibility of a reference to the joint machinery of the industry. Therefore, it is better that I should say nothing more now.