HC Deb 01 April 1943 vol 388 cc315-6
10. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the effect on good will of those employed in the engineering industry by the tribunal award of 20th March; will he give the names and professions of those who compose the tribunal; is he satisfied with Subsection (3) paragraph (b) of the award; and that the highly-skilled men are receiving the reward due to them for the great contribution which they have made to the national effort since 1938?

Mr. Bevin

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate a list of the names of the members forming the tribunal, in the recent case relating to wages and conditions in the engineering industry, in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It would be impertinent of me to express any opinion with regard to the award. I have no reason to doubt that both sides of the industry will accept and implement the decisions of the tribunal with good will.

Mr. Kirkwood

Is the Minister aware that before this award was made the engineers were paid, with the basic rate and national bonus, 1s. 813/16d. That was made up of 11¾d. basic rate and 91/16d. national bonus. Now, with the 6s. of the award, which is on the bonus and not on the basic rate, and with £1 taken from the bonus and put on the basic rate, the basic rate for engineers, instead of being 11¾d. per hour will be 1s. 4½d. and 10006d. What is the Minister going to do to clear up the serious discontent throughout the country?

Major-General Sir Alfred Knox

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that men in the Services, who by giving their lives to the country contribute much more to the war effort, get sufficient reward for their services?

Following are the names:

Appointed Members:

The Hon. Mr. Justice Simonds (Chairman), Judge of the Chancery Division, High Court of Justice.

Sir John Forster, barrister at law.

Sir W. David Ross, Provost of Oriel College, Oxford.

Panel Members:

Mr. W. O. R. Holton, of William Holton and Sons Limited, manufacturers of fancy woollens.

Mr. A. M. Wall, J.P., General Secretary, London Society of Compositors.

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