HC Deb 25 June 1948 vol 452 cc1703-6
Mr. Speaker

Mr. Eden.

Mr. Eden

May I ask—

Air-Commodore Harvey

On a point of Order. With the greatest respect, Mr. Speaker, you will recall that yesterday afternoon I put a question to the Prime Minister asking if the Minister of Food could make a statement today dealing with food rations, to which the Prime Minister replied, "Certainly." Without in any way questioning your authority, I put in a Private Notice Question yesterday evening, which I understand you disallowed because it was understood that the Minister of Food was going to make a statement. Now I understand he is not going to do so. May I ask your Ruling, Sir, as to how the position now stands, and if the Prime Minister will cover that particular subject?

Mr. Speaker

I called the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) to ask for a statement about the docks strike and, as far as I know, that may cover the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air-Commodore Harvey). I cannot direct any Minister to answer any particular questions. The right hon. Gentleman asked questions about food, I think, yesterday and the day before. I should have thought that covered the question raised by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Air-Commodore Harvey

I did put in my Private Notice Question, which was disallowed because the Minister of Food was going to make a statement. Surely there has been some slip up in this matter?

Mr. Speaker

We shall see what the Prime Minister replies to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington.

Mr. Eden

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any further statement to make about the strike at the London Docks?

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

The movement of perishables will be completed this weekend, and arrangements have been made to maintain the distribution of food. I have nothing further to add to the statement which I made yesterday.

Mr. Eden

I must ask the Prime Minister whether the statement he made in answer to the last part of my last question yesterday still holds good. The right hon. Gentleman may remember that I asked him: Would he give us an absolute assurance that over the weekend any necessary steps will be taken so that the export trade of this country can function again, and that when the Government say they propose to take steps, those steps are not limited merely to the moving of perishable foodstuffs? The right hon. Gentleman replied: Certainly. I never suggested that the steps taken should be limited to the movement of perishable foods. That was the first matter that had to be dealt with. I entirely agree that it is quite obvious that we cannot have the whole of the life of this country held up."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th June, 1948: vol. 452, c. 1579.] The right hon. Gentleman this morning referred only to foodstuffs. May I ask what is the position?

The Prime Minister

I made a general statement, in reply to the right hon. Gentleman, that the whole life of the country could not be held up, and that, therefore, one would have to take steps in the future, if the strike continued, to deal with other things. At the moment we are dealing with perishables and with the rations. The work will continue over the weekend, but I am not prepared to make any detailed statement in advance as to the rest. But I assure the right hon. Gentleman and this House that we are quite determined that everything necessary shall be done to maintain the life of the nation.

Mr. Eden

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that, according to "The Times" this morning, it is said that there was no improvement yesterday and that, according to the tape this morning, there has been a further deterioration today? Can the Prime Minister give us any indication now, on the twelfth day of this strike, when the Government propose to take action so that the trade of the country can recover?

The Prime Minister

We shall take all necessary action but this matter does need very great consideration. The right hon. Gentleman must know that we cannot bring in masses of people to deal with all kinds of cargoes and so on at a moment's notice.

Mr. Eden

But the right hon. Gentleman did say yesterday that all the necessary preparations had been made. We do not want a Debate; we certainly do not want to increase the difficulties, but surely, in view of these 140 or more ships which are now held up, the country ought to have some indication when, if ever, the Government are going to take any steps to deal with them?

The Prime Minister

Preparations are being made.

Mr. Clement Davies

May I ask the Prime Minister a question? Yesterday he took rather an optimistic view of what might happen. Is there any change, or is there any truth in the statement which appeared on the tape that the situation has deteriorated?

The Prime Minister

It is difficult always to judge the situation. As I understand it, the situation is the same today as it was yesterday.

Air-Commodore Harvey

May I ask the Prime Minister if he is now prepared to make a short statement to reassure the public and to say to what extent their immediate rations will be met?

The Prime Minister

I cannot make any further statement than the statement I have made that arrangements have been made to maintain the distribution of food.

Mr. Piratin

While the whole House would like to see an end to this strike, as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has suggested, would not the simplest thing to do, instead of carrying out the implied threat to bring in more divisions of soldiers, be to give way to the strikers' demand to suspend the penalty on the 11 men? May I put another question to the Prime Minister about the percentage—

Mr. Speaker

After the statement yesterday, I protested against supplementary questions being put in the form of long speeches, and that is exactly what the hon. Member is doing now.

Mr. Piratin

I wanted to ask two questions of the Prime Minister. I have asked one; may I ask the other? In relation to the statement which the Prime Minister made on Wednesday, when he said that 2,500 men had returned to work in Tooley Street, is it not a fact that the Transport and General Workers' Union gave the figure of only 1,500? How can he reconcile those figures.

The Prime Minister

The answer is that I gave the figures as I received them from the port authorities. As regards the first part of the question, it would be a very simple thing to destroy the whole basis of the trade union movement.

Mr. Gammans

In view of the fact that Mr. Deakin has said that 37 out of the 48 members of the strike committee are Communists, does the Prime Minister regard this attempt to hold up British trade as part of the cold war on this country of which events in Malaya and Berlin are other evidences?

Mr. Keeling

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he has seen Mr. Deakin's statement, reported in "The Times" this morning, that it was at his, Mr. Deakin's, request that the use of troops was limited to the saving of perishable cargoes?

The Prime Minister

. That is incorrect. There has been some misunderstanding on the point.