HC Deb 09 March 1950 vol 472 cc470-2
The Minister of Labour (Mr. George Isaacs)

With the permission of the House I desire to make the following statement:

As the distribution of manpower is now such that the Control of Engagement Order can safely be withdrawn, the Government in accordance with its declared intention to dispense with labour controls as early as possible has decided to revoke this Order as from the end of the week and to discontinue entirely the use of the power of direction. There have been progressive relaxations in administration of the Order and for long the practice of giving directions to specified work, in order to support its administration, has been almost entirely in abeyance. At the end of last year the ring fences round coalmining and agriculture were abolished. We can now take the final step of abolishing this control altogether, and it will no longer be compulsory for engagements of labour to be made through the employment exchanges of the Ministry of Labour. The exchanges will remain freely at the service of employers and workers, and it is hoped that they will, for their own advantage, make the fullest use of them.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Is the Leader of the House aware that this bloodless victory gained by the Opposition will necessitate a reconsideration of the business for Thursday next; and, therefore, I give notice that we shall, through the usual channels, engage in conversations with a view to debating some other subject. May I say to the right hon. Gentleman that I am very glad that at the beginning of this new Parliament, the Government are learning to take their policy from the Opposition?

Mr. Morrison

As a matter of fact, this is all nonsense, as no one knows better that the right hon. Gentleman. The use of this Regulation has been steadily diminishing; in fact, I do not think it has been in use for the last six months. Consequently, the announcement of my right hon. Friend is absolutely consistent with the policy of the Government. The real trouble is that the Opposition, having announced through the Deputy Leader of the Opposition on Monday that their policy is one of care and conciliation and not to rock the boat, have been looking out ever since for trouble. This time they have looked too late because the Government got in first.

Major Sir David Maxwell Fyfe

In view of the ingenuous addendum of the Lord President to the statement of the Minister of Labour, may I ask the Minister of Labour what is the difference in the distribution of manpower, which is mentioned in his statement, from the state of manpower in the early hours of 15th December last, when, at his instance, the House rejected the Prayer of myself and my hon. Friends to annul this Order?

Mr. Isaacs

As the House is aware—certainly those Members who took part in that Debate will be—I then made it clear that it was our intention to lift this Order as soon as we were satisfied of the practicability of doing so. For six months now we have found that we can "man-up" the essential industries without the use of direction; in that six months not a solitary direction was given. Having satisfied ourselves with that trial that we can carry on with the loyal co-operation of our workers, who responded to our appeals, we have decided—and we decided some days back —to lift this Order.

Mr. Poole

Does the Minister not appreciate that in making this announcement after the election rather than before it he gives the Opposition an excellent lesson in political honesty?

Sir Herbert Williams

Why did not the Minister of Labour tell the Lord President of the Council about this, because then the Lord President would not have announced for next week nonexistent business?

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

In view of the obvious desire in certain quarters of the House to discuss this matter further, will the Lord President stick to the programme that he has announced for next week?

Mr. H. Morrison

It is just possible that, the Government having decided to revoke the Order, the Opposition may wish to press the Government to put the Order back again.

Mr. Granville

Whilst thanking the Minister of Labour for his ready response to the suggestion made by the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party on Tuesday of this week in the Debate on the Address, may I ask him whether he will continue the good work and consider rescinding the regulations and arrangements for the direction of industry to the development areas, particularly when no surplus of labour is available there?

Mr. Isaacs

The question of the direction of industry is not one for my Department. As to the hon. Gentleman's expression of thanks, let me say in all sincerity that most hon. Members know that we have been anxious to lift this Order as soon as we felt it was safe to do so, and we have done so.

Mr. Somerset De Chair

Is not the really operative distribution of manpower since 15th December that which has taken place in this House?

Mr. Fernyhough

In view of the Opposition's delight at this setting of the people free, will the Minister of Labour consult with the Minister of Defence with a view to carrying it a stage further and not directing young men into the Armed Forces?

Mr. Henry Strauss

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has simply decided not to direct anybody, or whether he means that he is going to bring Regulation 58A legally to an end?

Mr. Isaacs

The hon. and learned Gentleman refers to Regulation 58A. This Order is made under that Regulation, and the question of the legal interpretation of Regulation 58A is under consideration. Apart from that, I give the House the oassurance that this Order will be annulled, and that direction of labour will definitely come to an end.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile his statement that this decision has been made possible by the better "manning-up" of the more vital industries with the steady fall in manpower in the mines which has taken place since last December?

Mr. Isaacs

The question to which I have to direct my attention is: Can we meet the demands of industry as fully as possible without the power of direction? I am satisfied that we can, and it is on that line that I have moved.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Would the Minister not give further consideration to the appeal of my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) and abolish conscription?