HC Deb 04 April 1944 vol 398 cc1795-6
35. Sir A. Knox

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the present arrangements are for the issue of permits to workers entitling them to obtain alarm clocks; and, in particular, whether these permits are issued by the trade union concerned or by the management of the factory.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)

Since September, 1943, 557,000 permits for alarm clocks have been issued by the Board of Trade, mainly through the Trade Unions, to those who have to go to work between midnight and 5 a.m. All the most urgent claims should now have been met. I am not, therefore, issuing any further permits as from 1st April. But in order to give time for the outstanding permits to be cleared, unrestricted sale of these clocks will not be possible at present.

Sir A. Knox

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it better to issue these permits through the manufacturers concerned? I have a case of a man who works it hours in a factory, who has to get up at 3 a.m. in order to start work on the early shift, and who has been refused a permit, while other people, living very much nearer their work, can obtain permits. This man, however, happens to be not a trade unionist.

Mr. Dalton

This House and the country, and I myself, owe a great debt to the trade unions. This arrangement was made in agreement with the British Employers' Confederation when the scheme was instituted in September last year. It has worked extremely well, and the trade unions have played the game throughout. They have met the claims of non-unionists in a great many cases. These arrangements have been carefully watched by my Department and I take this opportunity of thanking the trade unions up and down the country for what they have done.

Sir H. Williams

As 60 per cent. of the people in this country who work for their living do not belong to a trade union, why has the right hon. Gentleman adopted the Fascist principle that you must act through a corporation?

Mr. Dalton

I have already stated, and I repeat, that this was done in agreement with the British Employers' Confederation, who are acquainted, as are the trade unions, with the requirements of the case. Let me add that if this very effective method had not been adopted, I should have had to employ an extra horde of officials to do the work.

Sir A. Knox

Will the Minister tell me, in the interest of my constituent, what steps I must take in order to enable this man to get a permit?

Mr. Dalton

The hon. and gallant Member can communicate with me, as is common in cases of difficulty, and I will be glad to look into the matter.