§ 27. Mr. Pearsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will take steps to allay the discontent which is caused among the poorest paid railway staffs by the refusal of the Great Western Railway Company to allow men occupying the lowest rated positions in the permanent way department to transfer to the traffic and/or goods department, where there are vacancies carrying considerably higher rates of 956 wages, and the placing into these positions of men who have never before been in the railway service; and will he arrange that men with long service in the permanent way department shall be transferred to shunting and other better paid duties requiring knowledge and railway skill in priority to newcomers?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI fully sympathise with the purpose of my hon. Friend's Question, but I regret that the Great Western Railway are seriously short of permanent way labour. They have 300 more miles of track to maintain than before the war, and their staff has been substantially reduced. They can only make transfers to other departments, if they are able to obtain other suitable personnel to fill the vacancies so caused. Subject to this, however, the Great Western Railway Company will consider whether and how an opportunity can be given to some of the permanent way staff to transfer to other work.
§ Mr. WatkinsHave the subjects dealt with in the Question been dealt with by trade union negotiations? If not, would not that be the right way to deal with the matter?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am much in agreement with my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. PearsonHas not the matter been before the Area Committee and nothing done by the Company?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI will inquire.