§ 37 and 39. Mr. D. Priceasked the Minister of Labour (1) when he will be able to introduce the Bill to implement paragraphs 114 to 118 of the Gowers Report, Command Paper No. 7664, which refer to the 997 conditions of work of some 500,000 employees of British Railways at present outside the scope of the Factories Acts;
(2) whether, in view of the unsatisfactory conditions in locomotive running sheds, he will give priority to the introduction of legislation to bring such sheds within the scope of the Factories Acts, as recommended in paragraphs 115 to 118 of the Gowers Report, Command Paper No. 7664.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)Legislation to give effect to these recommendations of the Gowers Report will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time is available but it is doubtful if the necessary time can be found this Session.
§ Mr. PriceWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he could make representation to the British Transport Commission about the desirability of dovetailing the recommendations of this Report into its modernisation scheme, so that conditions in at least the running sheds could be made more attractive to the people working on the railways?
§ Mr. MacleodThat point is well recognised, but I will certainly follow up the suggestion made by my hon. Friend.
Mr. LeeWill the right hon. Gentleman recall that during the last Parliament certain promises were made on behalf of the Government on this issue? Is he aware that from this side of the House we should welcome the implementation of those promises?
§ 38. Mr. D. Priceasked the Minister of Labour what would be the approximate cost of implementing paragraphs 114 to 118 of the Gowers Report, Command Paper No. 7664, which aim at improving conditions of work in British Railways.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIt is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the cost of implementing the recommendations which were in general terms and allowed for exemptions. Moreover considerable improvements have been made in staff welfare amenities since the Committee reported. Expenditure has been at the rate of about £1½ million a year.
§ Mr. D. JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the recommendations of the Gowers Committee are now nearly 998 eight years old, that consultations with the appropriate bodies ceased in October, 1954, and that in reply to a Private Member's Bill last April the Joint Under Secretary of State for the Home Department said that the Government were nearly ready? Why is it taking so long to introduce legislation?
§ Mr. MacleodThe solitary difficulty is that of Parliamentary time. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Indeed, there are a large number of Measures, for example, the Capital Punishment Bill, which have had to be taken into the programme. As soon as time can be found, the Railways Bill will be introduced.