HC Deb 11 April 1951 vol 486 cc1005-7
39. Mr. Ronald Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the inquiries which were made relating to the preparation of the Pallant Report on the Operating Problems of the Nigerian Railway, Sessional Paper No. 21, 1950, included consultations with the railway trade unions; and whether labour relations on the Nigerian railway have improved since the publication of the report.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Mr. Pallant had discussions with the leaders of the railway trade unions. There has been some improvement in the relationship between the management and unions since the publication of the Report.

Mr. Williams

Is my right hon. Friend aware that considerable publication is being given in Nigeria to the fact that in the preliminary stages of these investigations there were no consultations with the leaders of the trade unions? Will he give an assurance that there were full inquiries, and that the leaders were fully consulted?

Mr. Griffiths

My information is that Mr. Pallant had discussions with the representatives of the trade unions, and indeed it would be my desire that there should be the fullest discussions between them.