HC Deb 27 October 1953 vol 518 cc2593-4
12. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour how many Scottish port workers have been transferred from port to port in Scotland to facilitate the loading and discharge of vessels; which ports were involved; what are the figures for each; how many of such port workers were on a daily basis, and how many on a period basis; if he will state the amount of time saved by this arrangement of transfers; and what is the net effect on efficiency, costs and wages.

The Minister of Labour (Sir Walter Monckton)

As the reply to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that it is not possible to give any estimate of the amount of time saved or to measure the effect of the transfers on efficiency, costs and wages, but these transfers make a substantial contribution to the efficient use of the dock labour force.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Minister satisfied that this is the best way of dealing with this difficult problem and that it is working smoothly.

Sir W. Monckton

I think it is contributing in this way. It will be seen that the number of transfers is small. But if we did not do this in these ports we should have many more people merely getting attendance money.

Following are the figures:

TRANSFERS BETWEEN SCOTTISH PORTS BETWEEN 24TH AUGUST AND 17TH OCTOBER, 1953
Port Daily Transfers
In Out
Ayr … … 26 384
Troon … … 38 26
Irvine … … 189 60
Ardrossan … … 253 153
Greenock … … 386 197
Glasgow * … … 556 926
Aberdeen … … 107 105
Dundee … … 227 731
Tayport … … 173 —
Methil … … 669 265
Kirkcaldy … … 214 588
Burntisland … … 150 483
Grangemouth … … 1,249 825
Bo'ness … … 271 795
Leith … … 1,384 354
TOTAL … … 5,892 5,892
* In addition to the figures quoted there were 5,123 daily transfers between the five different sectors within the Port of Glasgow. There were no transfers on a period basis during the weeks in question.