HC Deb 18 November 1954 vol 533 cc539-40
5. Sir R. Acland

asked the Minister of Labour to make a further statement in relation to the strike in the ship-repairing industry.

Sir W. Monckton

As the hon. Member will be aware, the assistance of my Department has now been sought and my officers are at present in touch with the parties.

Sir R. Acland

I thank the Minister for a much more interesting reply than he has previously been able to give. Might I ask him to ensure that the contact is pursued with a sense of real urgency, because, although the strike cannot compare in national importance with the recent docks strike, it bears very hardly on large numbers of men?

Sir W. Monckton

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I inquire into the matter daily, and I will keep him well informed.

Mr. Hobson

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman having negotiations with the individual trade unions which form the confederation, particularly as each trade union has different ideas, and, indeed, different agreements, about redundancy?

Sir W. Monckton

The hon. Gentleman has touched upon a matter which makes these negotiations rather more difficult than some others. I am trying to keep the contacts as wide, and yet as close, as possible.