§ Mr. Robens(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make about the dispute in the shipbuilding industry.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)Although I have not yet received any direct notification of this dispute, I am of course aware that the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions have declared their intention to call a national strike in the shipbuilding industry to start at mid-day on Saturday, 16th March. The threatened strike is in support of a wage claim for all manual workers in the industry.
I hope to complete my preliminary consideration of this matter today, and to make a full statement to the House tomorrow.
§ Mr. RobensI presume that the right hon. Gentleman is well aware of the anxiety felt in this House and in the country in relation to this matter, but in view of the fact that he proposes to make a statement tomorrow, it seems to me that it will be far better if we do not question the right hon. Gentleman today but leave it until he makes his statement tomorrow.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWill the Minister bear in mind the policy of procrastination that has been followed throughout these negotiations both by the shipbuilding employers and by the engineering and allied employers? If the right hon. Gentleman is proposing to intervene, will he particularly bear that fact in mind?
§ Mr. MacleodYes. I am very grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I will make a full statement to the House tomorrow on the action that I think would be wise to take, and I shall bear those and all the other considerations in mind.