HC Deb 08 April 1937 vol 322 c332
14. Mr. McGovern

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the strike of engineers at Park-head Forge, Glasgow, and the strike of apprentices in Clyde shipyards; and whether he proposes to take steps to bring the parties in the disputes together with a view to bringing the strikes to a satisfactory conclusion?

Mr. E. Brown

I am aware of the disputes to which the hon. Member refers. They are at present the subject of discussion between the workpeople and the organisations concerned, and I know of no obstacle to a meeting between the workpeople and their employers.

Mr. McGovern

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great extension of the strike among the apprentices and probably the engineers, and that there exists in the Ministry of Labour a Department for the purpose of bringing the parties together? Is he also aware that the great increase in the cost of living is much in the minds of the men at the moment?

Mr. Brown

With regard to the last point, I would remind the hon. Member that the cost-of-living figure for March was 51, while in March, 1924, it was 78 —a very different figure. With regard to the first part of the supplementary, I have nothing to acid to my original answer, except to say that it is important for the Ministry of Labour to know when to interfere and when not to interfere.

Mr. Maxton

Is this not a reasonable demand on the part of the men?

Mr. Brown

The issue is one of constitutional procedure—a very different thing.