HC Deb 01 November 1955 vol 545 cc813-4
1. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement regarding talks held with a view to decreasing the number of strikes.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

Following the informal exploratory talks which the Prime Minister had this summer with the representatives of the British Employers' Confederation, the Trades Union Congress and the nationalised industries, my right hon. and learned Friend has had further discussions on industrial relations on the National Joint Advisory Council and the Joint Consultative Committee, which is a rather smaller body. The talks are to continue. There is agreement that the right approach to these matters does not lie in new legislation of a general nature. It would be a misconception to expect these talks to produce a general solution of problems which by their nature must be the particular care and constant responsibility of individual industries and establishments, but my right hon. and learned Friend hopes that the talks will result in giving valuable guidance on principles and methods for establishing and maintaining sound industrial relations.

Captain Pilkington

Whilst much appreciating what is being done by the Ministry of Labour, by employers and by employees, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he agrees that, because we depend so much on export markets in this country, our people are injured so much more by strikes than are most countries?

Mr. Watkinson

Certainly I agree that our economy is more vulnerable than that of most other countries, and that is the reason the members of the Joint Consultative Committee are giving this problem such serious attention.

Mr. H. Hynd

Does the Minister realise that the new increases in Purchase Tax and rents are likely to lead to industrial unrest?

Mr. Watkinson

That is quite another matter and not a subject which the Committee is discussing.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

In order that we should keep this problem in its right perspective, would not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that our record for industrial disputes over the last few years compares very favourably with our record in pre-war years, and also very favourably with those of most industrial countries in a comparable period?

Mr. Watkinson

Yes, the hon. Gentleman is entirely right; we have nothing to fear in comparison with other countries, but it still remains true that our economy is very vulnerable and that in the national interest we cannot afford the kind of stoppages that we have had on the railways and in the docks this year.