HC Deb 12 July 1938 vol 338 cc1196-7

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 27, leave out "their," and insert "its."

7.36 P.m

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Lennox-Boyd)

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This Amendment and the following one are purely drafting Amendments.

Question put, and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendment, in page 3, line 39, agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 41, at the end, insert: (4) In framing proposals for fixing remuneration under this Part of this Act in respect of any work, the board shall take into consideration any decision of a joint industrial council, conciliation hoard or other similar body relating to the remuneration of workers employed on road haulage work which may be brought to the notice of the board.

7.38 p.m.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

The Amendment authorises the board to take into consideration any decision of the Joint Industrial Council, but does not oblige the board to accept such decision.

7.39 P.m.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us what body he visualises as likely to have any effect on the Central Board which governs the conduct of the A and B licence holders? Does the Amendment mean that the board must work backwards and give consideration to the Conciliation Board's agreements with regard to the C licence holders, in whose case wages are notoriously low? If that be so, I think it would be wrong to accept the Amendment. On the other hand, it seems to me that, since the Central Board is to be the only body competent to deal with the A and B licence holders, there can really be no other body-which the board can consult or take cognisance of. If we are going to permit extraneous organisations arising from the area boards to run side by side with the Central Board, I think we shall wreck the good work that was done on the Bill in this House.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Some of those arguments would have relevance if there were an obligation on the board to listen to recommendations which have been made in the past by the Joint Industrial Council, but there is no such obligation. The new Sub-section merely authorises them to do so, and, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, it has been more or less agreed by the unions interested.

7.40 p.m.

Mr. Davidson

Would the new Subsection allow the Area Board that is to be established in Scotland to take into consideration representations from the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association, a trade union which has been established in Scotland for many years, and which has itself set up very efficient machinery to deal with wages and conditions in Scotland?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The new Sub-section deals only with the Central Board.

Question, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment," put, and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments, to page 6, line 31, agreed to.