§ 41. Mr. John Lewisasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Musicians' Union have given notice that on 1st August next it is their intention to withdraw all musicians from the B.B.C. with the exception of the ten house bands; and if he will make a full statement on the position, indicating who is responsible 1006 for the negotiations which have taken place between the Corporation and the union; and what steps have been taken in regard to arbitration.
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. I am informed that notice has been given to the B.B.C. by the Musicians' Union. The position, as I understand it, is that this dispute concerns the minimum rates to be paid to certain musicians taking part in broadcasts, a considerable proportion of whom are not directly employed by the B.B.C. These minimum rates have been negotiated in the past between the B.B.C. and the Musicians' Union and the negotiations that have recently taken place are the responsibility of the parties concerned. No steps have been taken in regard to arbitration. The parties are aware that the services of my Department are available to them.
§ Mr. Geoffrey CooperCould my right hon. Friend give consideration to bringing his influence to bear upon the B.B.C. to encourage them to set up suitable machinery to get this sort of problem cleared up? Does he not recognise that this is one further instance which shows that adequate machinery is not available?
§ Mr. IsaacsMy hon. Friend is not correctly informed. In the first place, it must be borne in mind that this is not in the normal run of industrial negotiations because, in this matter, the B.B.C. is not mainly the employer, but merely the contractor between the bands and the workers concerned. So far as our intervention is concerned, both parties know that it is available to them, the trade unions say they are willing to come when required, and we are awaiting a communication from the B.B.C.