§ 52. Mr. Turner-Samuelsasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the trade dispute between employer and workers at Rival Lamps Company, Addlestone, Surrey, where the workers have been out on strike for some 42 weeks, the employer has received assistance, in resisting the workers' claim, from Government action in the form of import licences or otherwise, to enable the company to obtain supplies of argon gas from France or elsewhere abroad, the effect of which is to defeat trade union action in this country which stopped the supply here to the company of argon gas pending a settlement or conclusion of the trade dispute; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ Sir W. MoncktonArgon gas is freely admissible from a number of countries, including France, under the open general licence and it is not necessary for anyone wishing to obtain imports from one of these sources to obtain special permission. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. Turner-SamuelsIs the Minister quite satisfied from the inquiries he has made that there is no invasion of any trade union rights here, because the men concerned are very disturbed about this matter?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI am satisfied that the working of the open general licence applies to this particular form of gas and, therefore, there can be no Government interference.