Railway Wage Negotiations

HC Deb 15 March 1951 vol 485 cc1752-3

36. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the recent railway wage negotiations.

Mr. Bevan

I have nothing to add to what I have already said on this matter.

Mr. Osborne

May I ask the Minister two questions? Will he tell us if any pressure was exerted by the Government on the Railway Executive to pay higher wages than were awarded by the independent tribunal? Second, what is the good of having an independent tribunal if no notice is taken of its recommendations?

Mr. Bevan

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong. It was not a tribunal. It was a report of an inquiry, and, therefore, did not have the status of an arbitration award. As for the discussions between the Ministry of Labour and both sides of the industry, they were quite confidential, and I do not propose to say what was said.