HC Deb 02 December 1948 vol 458 cc2168-9
47. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make a statement as to the terms of settlement arrived at in the dispute in which certain sections of the crew of the Cunard-White Star liner s.s. "Queen Elizabeth" were involved.

Mr. Isaacs

I am informed that representatives of the National Union of Seamen, accompanied by members of the crew, met a representative of the company, and as a result it was announced that on this occasion the ship would only sail to New York when the strike of longshoremen at that port is over. It was further announced that, provided the men returned to duty at noun on Monday, 22nd November, there would be no victimisation.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information whether the settlement included any terms as to the use or non-use of alternative ports in the other side of the Atlantic?

Mr. Isaacs

I do not know. Neither I myself, nor my Ministry actually handled this matter, and, when I asked the people concerned for information, this is all they gave me. It must be pointed out that I was ready to answer this Question some time ago and I have not brought it right up to date.

Captain Marsden

Do I gather from the Minister's reply, that this strike was approved by the mens' own union?

Mr. Isaacs

No, Sir; I do not think that can be read into my reply. The fact is that the union did step in, got into contact with the men and the firm and helped to bring about a settlement.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is the right hon. Gentleman telling the House that he did not come into the picture at all? Surely, his Ministry ought to have intervened?

Mr. Isaacs

If the hon. Gentleman had been here when the first Question was asked, he would have known that that was not correct. We immediately got into touch, and, by the time our man got on the spot on Monday morning, he found that the parties had met on Sunday evening and had come to this agreement.

Mr. Gammans

Do the Government approve of the terms of an engagement under which a bedroom steward should determine where the ship should go?

Mr. Isaacs

If the hon. Gentleman would like an answer to that question, perhaps he will put it upon the Paper