HC Deb 04 November 1937 vol 328 cc1096-8
17. Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the dispute which is in progress between the Heywood Cor- potation and 16 of its employés consequent upon the refusal of that body to honour an award of the Whitley Council which has been observed by every other local authority in Lancashire and Cheshire; whether he is aware that a further 150 employés of the corporation have now become involved in the dispute; and whether he contemplates any action with a view to facilitating a settlement?

Mr. E. Brown

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Porritt), a copy of which I am sending him.

Mr. Smith

I am sorry that I was not present to hear that reply yesterday. Is the Minister taking any action to see that the Whitley Council's decision, to which everyone else in the area has subscribed, is carried out in this case?

Mr. Brown

If the two sides desire it, I shall be very glad to use my offices to bring about a resumption of negotiations.

Mr. Smith

It is not a question of the desire of the two sides, but one in which a number of authorities, including that of Heywood, have agreed to accept the finding of the Whitley Council, and one has run away from it.

76. Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the dislocation of the health services at Heywood, Lancashire, in consequence of a dispute which is in progress between the corporation of Heywood and a number of its employés; and whether, in view of the fact that the streets are not being swept or cleaned and the disposal of sewage is not receiving attention, he proposes to take any action which would facilitate a resumption of these essential services?

The Minister of Health (Sir Kingsley Wood)

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on this subject yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Porritt). I propose to await the outcome of his offer of further assistance in settling the dispute and thus securing the resumption of these services, the responsibility for which rests with the local authority.

Mr. Smith

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to see that the essential services in this area are properly looked after while the dispute continues?

Sir K. Wood

The responsibility for this matter rests with the local authority. I hope that the dispute will soon be settled.