HC Deb 17 May 1956 vol 552 cc2203-5
43. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to see that industrial disputes of the kind which have arisen in the Standard Motor Company, Coventry, are avoided in the future.

Mr. Carr

My right hon. Friend has already said that the best way to avoid friction over the introduction of new machinery and new methods of working is for firms to consider in their planning from the beginning how this will affect their workers and bring them into early discussion. The personnel management advisers of my Ministry are available to help firms with advice on questions of consultation, planned recruitment, labour budgeting, re-training and transfers.

Mr. Ellis Smith

While I admit that the Standard Motor Company is a non-federated concern and that their policy has been equivalent to repudiation of the national agreement between the national engineering employers and the trade unions, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that clause 12 of that agreement states that when a depression in trade takes place a systematic short time shall be worked, where practicable, in preference to discharging men?

In view of the fact that we have had full employment for 15 years and all our fellow-countrymen have been making a great contribution, should it not be the duty of the Ministry to see that clause 12 applies in order that available employment may be spread over all those who have played a part in full employment?

Mr. Carr

It has long been the policy of my Ministry, under successive Governments, to allow these matters to be settled by the proper industrial machinery and by joint consultation between the two sides. I am not prepared to comment on the rights or wrongs of the discussions which are now going on at Standards, and I am sure that the whole House is glad that work has been resumed.

Mr. Lee

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that the conclusion to be drawn from this incident is that we must have a far greater degree of industrial planning in areas such as Coventry and Birmingham, where one great industry is now beginning to contract? Does he not also agree that from this angle it is not sufficient to say that there are so many vacancies on the books, but that rather we must look at the industries which we can put into an area where a big industry is contracting?

Mr. Carr

As my right hon. Friend has emphasised several times recently, and as his predecessor did also on several occasions, we believe that early consultation between the trade unions and employers is essential.

Mr. Ellis Smith

And the carrying out of agreements.

Mr. Carr

Certainly, and the carrying out of agreements. That is the basis of our industrial relations in this country.