§ 8. Mr. Simmondsasked the Minister of Labour the total number of manual 1634 employees in industry in Great Britain and the number of these who were members of trade unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress on the most recent convenient date?
§ Mr. BevinThe total number of work-people insured against unemployment in Great Britain at July, 1939, the latest date in respect of which figures are available for publication, was approximately 15,548,000. In the report on the proceedings at the annual Trades Union Congress held in September, 1941, the total membership of the affiliated trade unions was shown as approximately 5,079,000 at the end of December, 1940. I am not in possession of information showing how many manual and non-manual workers, respectively, were included in these totals.
§ Mr. SimmondsIn view of the fact that these figures show that probably there are more non-trade unionists than trade unionists in industry, would my right hon. Friend, in his various suggestions and proposals for the collaboration on an advisory basis of employees and management, bear in mind the fact that many trade unionists are well organised and elected by secret ballot in their own offices, and do his best to encourage these councils?
§ Mr. BevinI have made it clear that I have left the setting-up of these bodies to the industries concerned, and I have laid down no regulations of any kind.
§ Mr. James GriffithsHas my right hon. Friend any information of the number of manual employees who benefit by the wage agreements and other agreements made by the trade unions?