§ 41. Sir F. Medlicottasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that after a strike lasting for more than six months, it has now been decided in the Cammell Laird shipyard who shall fix the metal sheets in the insulated spaces of ships under construction there; and if he will now indicate what steps are being taken to resolve the second part of the dispute, namely, as to who is to drill the holes in the sheets, so that work on the construction of the ships may finally proceed.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Robert Carr)With regard to the first part of the Question relating to the fixing of metal sheets an award was recently made by an Arbitration Court appointed by my right hon. Friend. With regard to the second part of the Question relating to the drilling work, this is being dealt with under the industry's 1912 Agreement, as recommended by the Committee of Inquiry appointed by my right hon. Friend in March.
§ Sir F. MedlicottHas my hon. Friend been able to find out the reasons why this apparently straightforward dispute has been able to be spun out for so many months? Is it not clear that if a dispute of this kind has proved so difficult, the problems of automation in this field may prove to be insurmountabe?
§ Mr. CarrI can hardly agree with my hon. Friend's description of this as a straightforward dispute. On the contrary, it has been most complicated and difficult. I deplore as much as anybody the strike and the effect it has had, but it is no use imagining that this sort of dispute can be resolved in any other way than by agreement.