HC Deb 17 February 1953 vol 511 cc1200-10
Mr. Sandys

I beg to move, in page 9, line 39, after "them" to insert: after consultation with such representative organisations as they consider appropriate. This Amendment requires the Board to consult with representative organisations about research, training and education, and it should be read in conjunction with the Amendment standing in my name to Clause 31, page 26, line 6. which enlarges the definition of "representative organisations" to include not only trade associations, but trade unions as well. I tabled this Amendment largely to meet the substance of the right hon. Gentleman's Amendment to line 41.

There are two differences between my Amendment and the right hon. Gentleman's. The first relates to the qualification which introduces the whole of the present Clause. These words appear at the beginning of Clause 10: If and so far as existing arrangements appear to the Board to be inadequate In his Amendment, the right hon. Gentleman omits that qualification. I do not know whether it was intentional; no doubt there was some good reason for it. In our opinion, it would be wasteful and confusing to give the Board power to intervene and to duplicate arrangements for research, training and education if the existing ones are working satisfactorily.

The second difference consists in the fact that the right hon. Gentleman's Amendment specifies that there should be consultation only in respect of training and education, whereas my Amendment asks for consultation in respect of research, too. There is little doubt that, whether we put these words into the Bill or not, the Board will in fact ensure proper consultation on all three matters— research, training, and education. But if we are to dot the i's and cross the i's, then the requirement of consultation should apply to the whole Clause, or the impression will be given that we have specially excluded research. I hope that, with that short explanation, the Committee will be willing to accept the Amendment and that the right hon. Gentleman will not press his Amendment to line 41.

Mr. C. R. Strauss

We agree with the right hon. Gentleman that there is not very much difference between his Amendment arid ours. There is certainly not sufficient difference to lead us to make a fuss about it or to argue about, and certainly not to vote about it. In view of the right hon. Gentleman's Amendment, we do not propose to press our Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

10.15 p.m.

Mr. Arthur Palmer (Cleveland)

I beg to move, in page 10, line 4, to leave out from "section," to the end of line 5.

I think that both sides of the Committee will agree that this is a short but nevertheless important Clause. It deals with research, education and training. obviously something of fundamental importance to a technical industry of the character of iron and steel. The principle of the Clause, as I read it, is that it is the duty of the Board to promote research, education and training and to grant loans for that purpose, but in the Clause as drafted there is the rather curious provision that the supervisory Board will be forbidden by Act of Parliament, if the Bill becomes law, to undertake such activities themselves.

I want to be brief, as time is pressing, but I want to explain why we on this side think that ban both wrong and unnecessary. Taking the question of research first, I can well see that arguments will be put forward that the iron and steel industry already has well-organised research facilitles, that indeed the industry operates the British Iron and Steel Research Association. I grant to those who will put forward that argument that that Association is very successful and is certainly one of the largest of its kind in the country.

We are anxious to be fair and I agree that the British Iron and Steel Research Association has done excellent work in both fundamental and applied research. It is quite clear that any supervisory Board of a public character would do nothing to hinder such work and, I presume, as a matter of course would encourage it. But why in the name of common sense should the supervisory Board be forbidden by Act of Parliament from doing research itself if it sees an opportunity to do so?

I do not see why it should be forbidden by the law of the land to do it. After all, research in this country, which on the whole is still not inferior to that of any country in the world, has always been extraordinarily flexible. I am sure that hon. Members opposite will agree that it has been a partnership between Government laboratories, universities, independent firms, voluntary associations and so on. To tidy minds—and I know that there are such on this side of the Committee—that might be considered as overlapping, but it can be argued by those who have experience of research activity —and I agree with them—that it often means check and counter-check and that it gets results.

If that rather mixed research system on which we pride ourselves so much in this country has worked so well in the past, why on this occasion should it be stopped by the law of the land, for that is what this Clause sets out to do? Why should this great public body, responsible to Parliament for a highly technical industry, be placed in the unique position of being warned off research? Nobody expects it to do the work of others, but it might well be allowed to do the work which in future it may consider to be specifically its own.

The same general argument holds good in respect of education and training. The case for this Amendment is just as strong in that field. We know of the excellent work which is done already in industry in apprenticeship schemes, area training schemes and so on. The latest Steel House report gives many details. Those who know something of this work will agree that much of the work is of recent origin; that many gaps in education and training in the iron and steel industry still need to be filled. The new Iron and Steel Board should he allowed to play its part in filling some of those gaps like any other agency.

Last year, when I was temporarily away from the House of Commons, I had the pleasure of going to the United States as a member of the British team which went to study American supervisory training and I played some part in writing the report of that team. I think that it can be said that in the iron and steel industry, as in British industry generally, there is still a tremendous field for further work in the training of foremen and supervisors. Why should not the Board have the right, if it sees the need, to establish staff colleges and training centres of the appropriate kind to help train these supervisors?

Mr. Low

The hon. Member for Cleveland (Mr. Palmer) finished his speech by asking why the Board should not have power to set up a research agency. Of course, what he is seeking to do by this Amendment is to enable the Board to carry out research and training and education itself

Mr. Palmer

If it wishes to do so.

Mr. Low

—if it wishes to do so, and if certain things happen—just as previous Amendments moved from the other side of the Committee sought to give the Board power to carry on works itself, and lines of development within the industry itself, and import materials itself. We were just discussing that a moment or two ago. But the Bill already makes it possible for the Board to make loans to persons undertaking any such research, and really, under the Bill as it is now drafted—I think the Committee will agree with me on this point—the Board can make all the contribution to research, training and education that the hon. Gentleman wants it to do.

Mr. Palmer

Why should it be prohibited?

Mr. Low

We prohibit the Board from doing these things because we think the Board's job is to supervise and influence the general policy of the industry, and we do not want it to become directly involved in undertaking any particular part of the industry's business. Moreover, the membership of the Board will not necessarily be such as to qualify it for this. As my right hon. Friend mentioned a moment ago, there will not necessarily be on the Board people skilled in importing raw materials; nor will there necessarily be on the Board people skilled in particular types of research.

I want just to make one further point about this Amendment, because I was interested to see that the name of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. G. Strauss) did not appear associated with it. I am wondering if there is any significance in that, because the Committee may remember— and this is the first quotation I have made from the right hon. Gentleman—that on 29th January, in discussion of this Bill, he said this to us: We believe that the Board should not be limited to "— certain things and to— do one or two other things which are wholly unimportant because they are being done already. For instance, they are already dealing well with research and education."— [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th January, 1953; Vol. 510, c. 1217.] By "they" he meant firms. I am sure he did not wish to contradict what his hon. Friend and I am saying, that research, training and education are very important matters indeed, but he did seem to me—his words seemed to suggest this—to be agreeing with us that these are not the sort of things that the Board should do itself.

For the reasons I have explained to the Committee we consider that the Bill already provides for the Board to make all the contribution to research, training and education which is desirable and which is desired by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Cleveland, who moved the Amendment, and we think it would be contrary to the spirit of the Bill to give the Board power to do those jobs itself, and, therefore, we hope that the Committee will reject this Amendment.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

I very much regret that the Parliamentary Secretary has not seen fit to accept this Amendment. He has quoted me in support of his argument —I do not think, properly. I was arguing at the time that the Board is being given no powers of any importance, or only some of comparative unimportance, and I said I thought that these powers to deal with research, training and education were comparatively unimportant because at the moment—and I repeat it—these things are being done pretty well by industry.

That does not mean it will always go on doing them well. It does not mean it may not be desirable in a few years' time—if the Board still exists, which, I think is unlikely, because there will be a change of Government by that time— but if the Board should still exist at that time it may be desirable to branch out in some new line of research and do some training. Now, it is probable that that work would be better done by some agency rather than the Board. I agree it is probable; but it is not certain. Why, therefore, deprive the Board by statute of the right of doing something which may be of some importance?

We feel rather keenly about this, because it follows the line of the attitude of the Government in all matters affecting the powers of the Board. The Board is given responsibility, but either it is given no power to do anything of importance, or where it has some apparent power steps are taken by

Amendments to curtail that power. We want the Board to be a body with status, authority, responsibility and power in a number of important directions. This is not an all-important one, but why should the Board be debarred by statute from ever doing its research, training or education? We do not think the Parliamentary Secretary has advanced any good reason why the Board should be deprived of that power, and we therefore propose to divide the Committee in favour of this Amendment.

Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause."

The Committee divided: Ayes, 251; Noes, 232.

Division No. 96.] AYES [10.26 p.m.
A[...]tken, W. T. Deedes, W. F. Hudson, Sir Austin (Lewisham, N.)
Allan, R. A. (Paddington, S.) Digby, S. Wingfield Hudson, W. R. A. (Hull, N.)
Alport, C. J. M. Dodds-Parker, A. D. Hulbert, Wing Cmdr. N. J.
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. McA. Hutchison, Lt.-Com. Clark (E'b'rgh W.)
Amory, Heathcoat (Tiverton) Donner, P. W. Hutchison, James (Scotstoun)
Anstruther-Gray, Major W. J. Doughty, C. J. A. Hyde, Lt.-Col. H. M.
Arbuthnot, John Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Malcolm Jenkins, Robert (Dulwich)
Astor, Hon. J. J. Drayson, G. B. Jennings, R.
Baldock, Lt.-Cmdr. J. M. Duncan, Capt. J. A. L. Johnson, Eric (Blackley)
Baldwin, A. E. Duthie, W. S. Johnson, Howard (Kemptown)
Banks, Col. C. Eden, Rt. Hon. A. Jones, A. (Hall Green)
Barber, Anthony Erroll, F. J. Joynson-Hicks, Hon. L. W.
Barlow, Sir John Fell, A. Kaberry, D.
Beach, Maj. Hicks Finlay, Graeme Kerr, H. W.
Bell, Philip (Bolton, E.) Fisher, Nigel Lambert, Hon. G
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Fletcher-Cooke, C. Lambton, Viscount
Bennett, F. M. (Reading, N.) Fort, R. Lancaster, Col C. G.
Bennett, Sir Peter (Edgbaston) Foster, John Langford-Holt, J. A.
Bennett, Dr. Reginald (Gosport) Fraser, Hon. Hugh (Stone) Law, Rt. Hon. R. K.
Birch, Nigel Fyfe, Rt. Hon. Sir David Maxwell Leather, E. H. C.
Bishop, F. P. Galbraith, Rt. Hon. T. D. (Pollok) Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H.
Black, C. W. Galbraith, T. G. D. (Hillhead) Legh, Hon. Peter (Petersfield)
Boothby, R. J. G. Gammons, L. D. Linstead, H. N.
Bossom, A. C. Garner-Evans, E. H. Llewellyn, D. T
Bowen, E. R. George, Rt. Hon. Maj. G. Lloyd Lloyd, Rt. Hon. G. (King's Norton)
Boyd-Carpenter, J. A. Glyn, Sir Ralph Lloyd, Rt. Hon. Selwyn (Wirral)
Boyle, Sir Edward Gough, C. F. H. Lockwood, Lt.-Col. J. C.
Braine, B. R. Gower, H. R. Longden, Gilbert
Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) Graham, Sir Fergus Low, A R. W.
Braithwaite, Lt.-Cdr. G. (Bristol, N.W) Gridley, Sir Arnold Lucas, Sir Jocelyn (Portsmouth, S.)
Brooke, Henry (Hampstead) Grimond, J. Lucas, P. B. (Brentford)
Brooman-White, R. C. Grimston, Hon. John (St. Albans) Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh
Browne, Jack (Govan) Grimston, Sir Robert (Westbury) McCorquodale, Rt. Hon. M. S.
Buchan-Hepburn, Rt. Hon. P. G. T. Harden, J. R. E. Macdonald, Sir Peter
Bullard, D. G. Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.) McKibbin, A. J.
Bullock, Capt. M. Harrison, Col. J. H. (Eye) McKie, J. H. (Galloway)
Bullus, Wing Commander E. E. Harvey, Air Cdre. A. V. (Macclesfield) Maclay, Rt. Hon. John
Burden, F. F. A. Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E.) Maclean, Fitzroy
Campbell, Sir David Harvie-Watt, Sir George Macleod, RI. Hon. Iain (Enfield, W.)
Carr, Robert Hay, John MacLeod, John (Ross and Cromarty)
Cary, Sir Robert Heald, Sir Lionel Macmillan, Rt. Hon. Harold (Bromley)
Channon, H. Heath, Edward Macpherson, Niall (Dumfries)
Clarke, Col. Ralph (East Grinstead) Henderson, John (Cathcart) Maitland, Comdr. J. F. W. (Horncastle)
Clarke, Brig. Terence (Portsmouth, W.) Higgs, J. M. C. Maitland, Patrick (Lanark)
Clyde, Rt. Hon. J. L. Hill, Dr. Charles (Luton) Manningham-Buller, Sir R. E.
Colegate, W. A. Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe) Markham, Major S. F.
Cooper, Sqn. Ldr. Albert Hinchingbrooke, Viscount Marlowe, A. A. H.
Craddock, Beresford (Spelthorne) Hirst, Geoffrey Marples, A. E.
Cranborne, Viscount Holland-Martin, C. J. Maude, Angus
Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. F. C. Hollis, M. C Maudling, R.
Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Holmes, Sir Stanley (Harwich) Maydon, Lt.-Comdr. S. L. C.
Crouch, R. F. Hope, Lord John Medlicott, Brig. F.
Crowder, Sir John (Finchley) Hopkinson, Rt. Hon. Henry Mellor, Sir John
Crowder, Petro (Ruislip—Northwood) Horobin, I. M. Molson, A. H. E.
Davidson, Viscountess Howard, Gerald (Cambridgeshire) Morrison, John (Salisbury)
Mott-Radclyffe, C. E. Robertson, Sir David Thomas, Leslie (Canterbury)
Nabarro, G. D. N. Robinson, Roland (Blackpool, S.) Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R. (Croydon, W.)
Nicholls, Harmar Robson-Brown, W. Thornton-Kemsley, Col. C. N.
Nicholson, Godfrey (Farnham) Roper, Sir Harold Tilney, John
Nicolson, Nigel (Bournemouth, E.) Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard Touche, Sir Gordon
Nield, Basil (Chester) Russell, R. S. Turner, H. F. L.
Noble, Cmdr. A. H. P. Ryder, Capt. R. E. D. Turton, R. H.
Nutting, Anthony Salter, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur Tweedsmuir, Lady
Oaksholt, H. D. Sandys, Rt. Hon. D. Vane, W. M. F.
O'Neill, Phelim (Co. Antrim, N.) Savory, Prof. Sir Douglas Vosper, D. F.
Ormsby-Gore, Hon. W. D. Schofield, Lt.-Col. W. (Rochdale) Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Scott, R. Donald Walker-Smith, D. C.
Orr-Ewing, Charles Ian (Hendon, N.) Scott-Miller, Cmdr. R. Ward, Hon. George (Worcester)
Orr-Ewing, Sir Ian (Weston-super-Mare) Simon, J. E. S. (Middlesbrough, W.) Ward, Miss I. (Tynemouth)
Osborne, C. Smithers, Peter (Winchester) Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
Perkins, W. R. D. Smithers, Sir Waldron (Orpington) Watkinson, H. A.
Peto, Brig. C. H. M. Smyth, Brig. J. G. (Norwood) Webbe, Sir H. (London & Westminster)
Pickthorn, K. W. M. Snadden, W. McN. Wellwood, W.
Pilkington, Capt. R. A. Spearman, A. C. M. Williams, Rt. Hon. Charles (Torquay)
Pitman, I. J. Speir, R. M. Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)
Powell, J. Enoch Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard Williams, Sir Herbert (Croydon, E.)
Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.) Stevens, G. P. Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Prior-Palmer, Brig, O. L. Stoddart-Scott, Col. M. Wills, G.
Profumo, J. D. Storey, S. Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Raikes, Sir Victor Strauss, Henry (Norwich, S.) Wood, Hon. R.
Rayner, Brig. R. Stuart, Rt. Hon. James (Moray) York, C.
Redmayne, M. Summers, G. S.
Remnant, Hon. P. Sutcliffe, Sir Harold TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Renton, D. L. M. Taylor, William (Bradford, N.) Mr. Studholme and Major Conant.
Roberts, Peter (Heeley) Teeling, W.
NOES
Acland, Sir Richard Edelman, M. Kenyon, C.
Adams, Richard Edwards, John (Brighouse) Key, Rt. Hon. C. W.
Albu, A. H. Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly) King, Dr. H. M.
Allen, Arthur (Bosworth) Edwards, W. J. (Stepney) Lee, Frederick (Newton)
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.) Lee, Miss Jennie (Canno[...]k)
Anderson, Alexander (Motherwell) Evans, Edward (Lowestoft) Lever, Harold (Cheetham)
Anderson, Frank (Whitehaven) Evans, Stanley (Wednesbury) Lever, Leslie (Ardwick)
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Fernyhough, E. Lewis, Arthur
Awbery, S. S. Fienburgh, W. Lindgren, G. S.
Bacon, Miss Alice Finch, H. J. Lipton, Lt.-Col. M
Baird, J. Fletcher, Eric (Islington, E.) MacColl, J. E.
Balfour, A Follick, M. McGhee, H. G.
Barnes, Rt. Hon. A. J. Foot, M. M. McGovern, J.
Bartley, P. Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) McInnes, J.
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J. Freeman, John (Watford) McLeavy, F.
Bence, C. R. Gaitskell, Rt. Hon. H. T. N. Mainwaring, W. H.
Benn, Hon. Wedgwood Gibson, C. W. Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg)
Benson, G. Gordon Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C. Mann, Mrs. Jean
Beswick, F. Greenwood, Anthony (Rossendale) Manuel, A. C.
Blackburn, F. Grenfell, Rt. Hon. D. R. Marquand, Rt. Hon. H. A
Blenkinsop, A. Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Mayhew, C. P.
Blyton, W. R. Griffiths, William (Exchange) Mellish, R. J.
Boardman, H. Hale, Leslie Messer, F.
Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G. Hall, John T. (Gateshead, W.) Mikardo, Ian
Bowles, F. G. Hamilton, W. W. Mitchison, G. R
Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Hannan, W. Monslow, W.
Brockway, A. F. Hardy, E. A. Moody, A. S.
Brook, Dryden (Halifax) Hargreaves, A. Morgan, Dr. H. B. W.
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Harrison, J. (Nottingham, E.) Morley, R.
Brown, Thomas (Ince) Hastings, S. Morris, Percy (Swansea, W.)
Burton, Miss F. E. Hayman, F. H. Mort, D. L.
Butler, Herbert (Hackney, S.) Healey, Denis (Leeds, S.E.) Moyle, A.
Callaghan, L. J. Hobson, C. R. Mulley, F. W.
Carmichael, J. Holman, P. Murray, J. D
Castle, Mrs. B. A. Holmes, Horace (Hemsworth) Nally, W.
Chapman, W. D. Houghton, Douglas Neal, Harold (Bolsover)
Chetwynd, G. R. Hudson, James (Ealing, N.) Oliver, G. H.
Coldrick, W. Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey) Orbach, M.
Collick, P. H. Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) Oswald, T.
Corbet, Mrs. Freda Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Padley, W. E
Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Hynd, H. (Accrington) Paget, R. T.
Crossman, R. H. S. Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) Paling, Rt. Hon. W. (Dearne Valley)
Cullen, Mrs. A Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill) Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury)
Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Irving, W. J. (Wood Green) Palmer, A. M. F.
Darling, George (Hillsborough) Janner, B. Parker, J.
Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Jay, Rt. Hon. D. P. T. Paton, J.
Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) Jeger, George (Goole) Pearson, A.
de Freitas, Geoffrey Jenkins, R. H. (Stechford) Peart, T. F.
Deer, G. Johnson, James (Rugby) Plummer, Sir Leslie
Delargy, H. J. Jones, David (Hartlepool) Porter, G.
Donnelly, D. L. Jones, Jack (Rotherham) Price, Joseph T. (Westhoughton)
Dugdale, Rt. Hon. John (W. Bromwich) Jones, T. W. (Merioneth) Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W)
Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C. Keenan, W. Pro[...]tor, W. T.
Pryde, D. J. Stewart, Michael (Fulham, E.) Wells, William (Walsall)
Pursey, Cmdr. H Strachey, Rt. Hon. J. West, D. G.
Rankin, John Strauss, Rt. Hon. George (Vauxhall) Wheatley, Rt. Hon John
Reeves, J. Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E. Wheeldon, W. E
Reid, William (Camlachie) Swingler, S. T. White, Mrs. Eirene (E. Flint)
Richards, R. Sylvester, G. O. White, Henry (Derbyshire. N E.)
Robens, Rt. Hon. A. Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield) Whiteley, Rt. Hon W.
Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Taylor, John (West Lothian) Wigg, George
Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvon) Taylor, Rt. Hon. Robert (Morpeth) Wilcock, Group Capt C. A. B.
Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.) Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W.) Wilkins, W. A.
Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) Thomas, Ivor Owen (Wrekin) Willey, F. T
Ross, William Thomson, George (Dundee, E.) Williams, David (Neath)
Shackleton, E. A. A. Thorneycroft, Harry (Clayton) Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Abertillery)
Shawcross, Rt. Hon. Sir Hartley Thornton, E. Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Short, E. W. Thurtle, Ernest Williams, W. R. (Droylsden)
Shurmer, P. L. E. Tomney, F. Williams, W. T. (Hammersmith, S.)
Silverman, Julius (Erdington) Turner-Samuels, M. Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Silverman, Sydney (Nelson) Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn Winterbottom, Ian (Nottingham, C.)
Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill) Usborne, H. C. Winterbottom, Richard (Brightside)
Slater, J. Viant, S. P. Woodburn, Rt. Hon A
Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.) Wallace, H. W Wyatt, W. L.
Sorensen, R. W. Watkins, T. E. Yates, V. F
Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank Webb, Rt. Hon. M (Bradford, C.) Younger, Rt. Hon. K
Sparks, J A Weitzman, D
Steele, T. Wells, Percy (Faversham) TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Mr. Bowden and Mr. Popplewell.

It being after Half-past Ten o'Clock, The CHAIRMAN, pursuant to Order, left the Chair to report Progress, and ask leave to sit again.

Committee report Progress; to sit again Tomorrow.

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