HC Deb 26 July 1956 vol 557 cc639-42
Mr. Lee (by Private Notice)

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make on the British Motor Corporation strike.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The House will be aware of the course of and the response to the strike called this week at the B.M.C. factories. The great majority of the workers involved in the dispute start their annual holidays tonight. It is to be hoped that this breathing space will be used to find a solution, and if the two sides seek my help I will be ready to arrange further talks at an early date.

Mr. Lee

Is the Minister aware that the strike has now spread beyond the B.M.C. to other parts of the motor industry, and that unless we get a fairly quick solution in this matter it may well be that it will spread even wider? May we take it from the Minister's Answer that, when he talks about the "breathing space" provided by the holiday period, he himself intends to use it to take the initiative in trying to bring the two sides together? If so, may I ask whether he has noticed the statement of Mr. Harry Brotherton, pointing out that any sensible or reasonable opportunity of talking the matter over in the way they think it ought to be would certainly be taken by the trade unions themselves? In other words, it would appear that the trade unions are willing to accept the Minister's intervention at this point. Would he consider that very seriously indeed?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, Sir. The hon. Member has very considerable experience of this and, if he and the House will forgive me for pointing it out, may I say that the words in my statement were very carefully drafted? There is an agreed procedure in the industry, which it is very important that I should not short-circuit. But perhaps I can add that I hope, and, indeed, expect, that there will be a response to the words I have just uttered.

Sir T. Moore

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is true, as the Press tells us, that pickets are now using violence—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—against those who want to work? If so, is this not illegal? Will my right hon. Friend say whether he is taking adequate steps to stop this cruel and cowardly practice against people who, apparently, are only putting their country before their union?

Mr. Macleod

The position in so far as it concerns this question is that peaceful picketing is permitted and intimidation is not. But I should not like to be led down the by-ways of my hon. Friend's question.

Mr. J. Griffiths

May I ask the Minister whether he realises that if he does take the initiative he will carry with him the good wishes of the House and of the nation? Would he bear in mind—and I speak as having some experience of these matters—that the kind of industrial situation we now have is the kind that in our experience has led in the past—and it would be regrettable if it led in the future—to permanent deterioration of industrial relations?

Mr. Macleod

I accept the anxiety of every right hon. and hon. Member of the House, wherever he may be seated, to find a solution to this matter. They know perfectly well that I am with them in that. Matters of procedure, however, are not unimportant in this question, and I must return to the remark I made to the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Lee), that my words were carefully drafted and that I believe that there will be a response to them.

Mr. Osborne

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that if fewer provocative questions were asked in the House, from either side, the better would be his chance of getting a settlement?

Mr. C. Pannell

Does the Minister realise that we do not necessarily agree that the normal rules of procedure apply here? We consider that the ordinary rules of procedure were broken in the first place, at least on one side of this dispute. We feel that very little reliance can be placed on the employers. Does he realise that we feel that, in view of the lack of consultation in dismissing men, which has been condemned on all sides of the House, the Minister has a plain duty to intervene and not to stand on any procedural niceties?

Mr. Macleod

I am not standing on any procedural niceties. I know, of course, the attitude that the unions and the employers have taken towards procedure. I do think, however, that we in this House would be wise to give this opportunity a real chance to work. I think it is such a chance, and we ought to take it.

Mr. Chapman

Would the Minister be good enough to consult his right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary about the very unhappy scenes which are now occurring outside factories in Birmingham? In particular, would he see whether something can be done to prevent the sort of Fascist provocation which I myself saw used there? Secondly, would he be good enough to see whether the police can be asked to limit their use of mounted police—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]. Oh, yes. Is not the Minister aware that I saw that for myself yesterday? I was next to them, and it does often make men "see red".

Mr. Speaker

Order. These are not matters for the Minister of Labour.

Mr. Chapman

On a point of order. I was asking the Minister to consult his right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary on these points.

Mr. Speaker

That is merely a device for asking the right question of the wrong Minister.

Mr. Shurmer

Further to the plea that has been made to the Minister to intervene, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not only a question of the present strike and the holiday period, but that already there are indications in Birmingham and the rest of the Midlands that the whole of the motor car industry, including the motor accessory industry, will be disorganised, and that many thousands of men will be out of work, or perhaps doing a couple of days work a week after the holidays? In those circumstances, is he prepared to hold back and to allow this suffering which might, perhaps, mean a greater struggle in the Midlands and which might extend throughout the country?

Mr. Macleod

Nothing I have said this afternoon, or in any statement I have ever made on this matter, could justify the suggestion that I am not prepared to play my full part in bringing the two sides together.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Mr. Speaker, I beg to move the Adjournment of the House—[Laughter.] They will not be laughing in Birmingham. I beg to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a matter of urgent public importance, namely—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I regret having to interrupt the hon. Member, but I do so to save time. I am precluded by Standing Order No. 16 from entertaining such a Motion. This is the last Supply day, when I am bound, at 9.30, to put certain Questions from the Chair. Standing Order No. 16 prohibits me from accepting a Motion of that kind today.

Mr. Ellis Smith

In view of the national emergency which has arisen, I want to move the suspension of the Standing Order to which you have referred, Sir. I respectfully agree that you have got greater access to advice as to what is in order, but I, representing ordinary men—and that is all I desire to do—have studied the Standing Orders—

Mr. Speaker

As the hon. Member says, I have the responsibility for administering the Standing Orders. A Motion to suspend the Standing Order requires notice, and no notice has been given. I am bound by the Standing Orders as much as the hon. Member.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are you prepared, then, in view of the very serious situation in the motor car industry, with its continuing effects upon our economy, to accept a Motion, "That this House do now Adjourn," so that we can consider this serious situation?

Mr. Speaker

No. I may say that next week, as I understand, we are to deal with the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, and, in so far as this matter is a matter of Ministerial responsibility, I think that perhaps advantage could be taken of that occasion to discuss it. But it certainly cannot be taken now.

Mr. Ellis Smith

With respect—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Never mind the "No, no." With respect, Mr. Speaker, I hope that there will be a sense of fair play when you come to have regard to what has occurred during this last day or two.

Mr. Speaker

I shall certainly try to be as fair as I can.