HC Deb 30 July 1946 vol 426 cc765-7
25. Mr. Gammans

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to settle the dispute at the G.W.R. Workshops, Swindon, between the National Union of Railwaymen and the National Union of Vehicle Builders which has held up the completion of 150 coaches since early in January and to which his attention was called by the hon. Member for Monmouth on 28th May.

Mr. Ness Edwards

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) on 28th May. The unions are submitting the point in dispute for settlement through the appropriate machinery of the Trades Union Congress.

Mr. Gammans

Is it a fact that this six months' strike has been going on because two rival unions cannot agree whose job it is to punch out these tickets? If the Government cannot do anything about it, may I ask whether they have considered applying to this dispute the methods with which they threatened the bakers the other day?

Mr. Edwards

This matter has been one of very great difficulty. The unions involved have agreed to submit the matter to the Trades Union Congress Disputes Committee, and I understand that a meeting is due to take place in the next few days. I do not think anything ought to be said to make the position more difficult than it is.

Mr. H. Macmillan

While appreciating the difficulties and the machinery used to stop the dispute, may I ask whether it is not a rather grave matter that, in the present shortage of rolling stock, no progress whatever will have been made between January and August, when I understand that the dispute will come up for consideration?

Mr. Edwards

I hope that nothing I have said gives the impression that I under-estimate the gravity of the position. We have been very much worried about it. We have now reached the stage where a settlement is in sight and we think that nothing ought to be said here which will prejudice that settlement.

Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

Is it any good referring me to an answer given as long ago as 28th May? The dispute has been going on ever since. Will not the Minister cause some inquiry to be made into the machinery for dealing with disputes of this kind? Would he not agree that there must be something seriously wrong with either the machinery or with his own Department if a ludicrous dispute of this kind can go on for six months when the country is crying out for rolling stock?

Mr. Edwards

Men who feel keenly about their rights in industry and whose feeling is dependent upon historical events, cannot be handled in quite that way.

Mr. Frank Byers

Can we take it that one of the unions concerned will be designated by the Government as a scab union?