HC Deb 07 December 1949 vol 470 cc1887-8
69. Sir Jocelyn Lucas

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why it has not been possible for his Department to make any further communication to the Institution of Professional Civil Servants following on a conference, held as long ago as 23rd July, on the salaries and conditions of certain staffs in the Admiralty Yardcraft Service.

Mr. W. Edwards

The reason for the delay is the necessity to consult other Departments. I hope that these consultations may soon be sufficiently advanced to enable a further communication to be made to the associations concerned.

Sir J. Lucas

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that great anxiety is felt by people concerned in this matter and is not the possible reason that His Majesty's Government are not very happy about the result?

Mr. Edwards

That is not the case. Actually one of the main causes for the delay is the fact that the unions and the I.P.C.S. could not come to an agreement as to which is actually to represent the men and that is far more the cause of delay than the negotiations with other Government Departments concerned.