HC Deb 27 May 1938 vol 336 cc1587-8
Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I beg to move, in page 7, line 21, after "the," to insert "road haulage."

This Amendment is to make it clear that the Industrial Court will deal only with remuneration in respect of road haulage work.

Amendment agreed to.

12.2 p.m.

Mr. H. G. Williams

I beg to move, in page 8, line 37, after "employer," to insert: or any organisation of employers of which the employer is a member. If hon. Members will look at the proviso in line 35, page 8, they will see that the question of the remuneration of any individual may be raised by an employer, a worker, or a trade union of which the worker is a member. If an employer belongs to an employers' organisation he can entrust them with the task of raising the issue. At the moment, apparently, an employers' organisation would be debarred from acting on behalf of the employer; he must himself make the application. It is surely sensible in these days when associations of employers are negotiating with trade unions, that such an organisation should be authorised to act on behalf of the individual employer in respect of an application of this kind.

Colonel Sandeman Allen

I should like to support the Amendment. Employers' organisations ought to have the same right as anybody in bringing these matters forward, and I hope the Minister will see his way to accept the Amendment.

12.4 p.m.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In view of what my hon. Friends have said, my right hon. Friend will look into this matter between now and the further stages of the Bill, but I would remind them that he already has power under Section 3 (1) of the Industrial Courts Act to make rules with regard to the procedure to be followed in cases that are referred to the Industrial Court for settlement. Under these rules the employer can be represented before the Industrial Council, by counsel or by a solicitor, and in fact organisations of employers appear as well as counsel.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

I hope that the Minister will not give serious consideration to the acceptance of this Amendment. It would give the employers' organisation power to ask for a variation of an award by the Industrial Court. The trade unions would have no such right.

Mr. H. G. Williams

I am not asking for anything so unreasonable. I am merely asking that an employers' organisation shall be in the same position as a trade union. That is simply elementary justice. However, in view of the reply I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment, on the understanding that the matter will be given further consideration.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.