HC Deb 26 January 1954 vol 522 cc1584-5
13. 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; 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 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

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. With regard to the remainder of the Question, I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. and learned Member on 27th October last.

Mr. Hughes

Has not the operation of this scheme, which was introduced by the previous Government, greatly improved relations between those who actually do the work and those who employ them to do it?

Mr. Watkinson

Yes Sir; I think it is going very well.

Following are the figures:

Transfers between Scottish Ports between 23rd November, 1953 and 16th January, 1954
Port Daily Transfers
In Out
Ayr — 138
Troon 19 53
Irvine 58 59
Ardrossan 199 19
Greenock — 643
Glasgow* 678 7
Aberdeen — 147
Dundee 726 181
Tayport 229 —
Methil 486 295
Kirkcaldy 183 371
Burntisland 19 838
Grangemouth 247 625
Bo'ness 77 505
Leith 992 32
Total 3,913 3,913
* In addition to the figures quoted there were 5,827 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.