§ 10. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many strikes have taken place in Singapore during the past two months; how many are now proceeding; what are the chief causes; and what is being done to create the necessary conciliation machinery to prevent them.
§ Mr. HopkinsonThree, Sir. The one affecting postal employees continues but 1344 has now been suspended for three days to permit further negotiations. To avoid a long statement I will write to the hon. Member about the causes. Normal machinery for conciliation and arbitration already exists. As regards negotiations with Government employees, there is another Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that the Governor of Singapore recently stated that he is aware of the delays that are taking place in the negotiations on the wage claim by employees, that half this claim was put in in 1950, and that it was two days before the notice to strike terminated that an offer was made by the Government?
§ Mr. HopkinsonMy hon. Friend is referring to the Post Office employees, and I shall be dealing with that in answer to the next Question.
§ Mr. DribergAs the matter is of some general interest, would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to circulate his reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT when he receives the information, instead of writing only to my hon. Friend?
§ Mr. HopkinsonI will send the hon. Member a copy, too.
§ Mr. DribergThe right hon. Gentleman has not caught my point. This is a matter of some general interest, and will he consider, when he gets the information, circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT instead of writing only to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. HopkinsonCertainly I will meet the convenience of the House in this matter, and I can circulate it in a written reply if that will be more convenient to the House.