§ 4. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour if men who leave this country to be employed by British companies abroad come under the Essential Work Orders; do the men employed by the oil companies abroad come under Essential Work Orders; is there any method of consultation between the various grades; and is there works committee elected representation.
§ Mr. BevinThe Essential Work Orders for which I am responsible do not apply to men working in undertakings abroad. Orders made by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under Defence Regulations provide, however, that British subjects or British protected persons may not leave the employment of undertakings in foreign countries scheduled as essential undertakings without the prior consent of the Secretary of State, or of an authority delegated to act on his behalf. A number of Colonial Governments have made similar Orders. I understand that in at least one of the oil refineries, there is a committee of elected representativs of the staff which co-operates with representatives of the management on a joint consultative committee.
§ Mr. SmithWhen the Foreign Office Regulations are applied, does my right hon. Friend think that the same conditions should be applied in this respect, where reasonable?