§ 33. Mr. Irvineasked the Minister of Labour whether he has now considered the Report of the National Dock Board on Dock Amenities; and what action he intends to take in regard to the recommendations in the Report.
§ Mr. IsaacsHis Majesty's Government felt that in principle many of the recommendations made in the Report constituted a valuable basis for considering what action could be taken. They have not felt able to advocate, in existing economic and financial circumstances, the implementation of those recommendations which involve substantial capital expenditure, but within this limitation there are many real improvements that can be carried out by the responsible bodies. I am making inquiries with a view to finding out what progress has been made in the past year and what further improvements are likely to put in hand.
§ Mr. IrvineWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer and recognising that something is being done in the matter, may I ask him to undertake to treat as a matter of primary urgency this question of amenities at the docks, in view of the appallingly bad conditions that the dockers have?
§ Mr. IsaacsI think it is right to say that both employers and dock authorities are anxious to clean up the bad state of affairs which has arisen at the docks.