HC Deb 01 July 1949 vol 466 cc1660-2
Mr. Eden

May I now ask the right hon. Gentleman another question of which I have given Private Notice? Can he make any statement to the House on the position of the strike at the London docks?

Mr. Isaacs

I regret to state that there is no improvement in the position this morning. In view of the statements that have been put out to the effect that the present situation constitutes a lock-out, I realise that the men may feel confused on this point. To remove misunderstanding I will explain the position as I see it. Under the dock labour scheme, the men are required to accept work offered them. If the National Dock Labour Board do not direct labour in response to requisition by employers, they may be held to be in breach of their statutory duty. The employers have a perfect right to requisition labour in such priority as they feel desirable or necessary.

I may say that this question has been raised on a number of occasions during the last few weeks. At my direct request the employers and the Dock Labour Board refrained from taking any action, but in view of the legal position I could not continue such a request indefinitely. The dock labour scheme confers considerable benefits on the dockers, and their unions are intent on preserving it. The men should resume normal work, in the knowledge that this is the advice of their unions, given in the light of all the facts.

Mr. Eden

I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has made that statement. May I ask him, in view of the reports that there is considerable confusion in the minds of some of the dockers as to the exact position, whether he will consider making that statement fully available at the earliest opportunity? Might I also ask whether he would consider coupling it, in view of the serious situation which has now arisen in our export trade, with an appeal from this House as a whole that work may be resumed and the life of the nation may be allowed to flow again?

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir. In case the statement that I have made this morning may not get the publicity that is required, I will consider immediately what other steps can be taken to bring home to the workers concerned both the points mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Osborne

In view of the confusion in the minds of some of the workers, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider making a short statement of the history of the case—how the trouble has arisen and how it affects the men over here—so that the position may be thoroughly understood? I believe that would help to get a settlement more quickly.

Mr. Isaacs

The history of the case is really so confusing and there is so much disagreement on the details, that we have not intervened on the merits of the dispute in another country but on the rights of our people to honour the laws, customs and agreements in their own country.

Mr. Eden

Is it not a fact that there are now 70 ships held up and that the position is becoming extremely serious? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he can add to the appeal just made, an appeal on behalf of this House to the men concerned that this state of affairs should be brought to an end?

Mr. Isaacs

We may rely upon the Press of the country, concerned as they are with the affair, to give publicity to what has just been said. I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's expression. I am sure that he is speaking for the House of Commons, and that this appeal is now made by the House of Commons not so much upon the merits or the demerits of the dispute or on the differences between employers and workers, but because of the absolute necessity, in the interests of the country's present position, that we should restore normal working.