§ 19. Mr. G. Hardieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the circular, dated 12th March, 155 issued by the Scottish National Building Trades Federation (Employers) advising a lock-out of their workers; and what action he proposes to take?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a similar question on the 13th instant, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. HardieIs not the Minister aware that this is the third time that he has denied the existence of this threat which is contained in the circular, and why does he persist in trying to make out that anyone on this side is not speaking the truth?
§ Mr. ElliotI have said that I have no knowledge of this circular, and if after a statement of that kind had been made three times questions were still put by any hon. Member drawing attention to a circular said to have been issued by the other side, the hon. Member would have been the first to say that that Member was trying to stir up strife.
§ Mr. HardieThe Minister is quite wrong. Is he aware that in the circular, which was issued on the 12th, there is a reference to a lock-out of the whole trade—it is printed there—as against the Corporation of Glasgow trying to run a 51-hour continuous week, and is not that something that is against the corporation?