HC Deb 28 March 1957 vol 567 cc1343-5
Mr. Robens

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement about the shipbuilding and engineering disputes.2

The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)

Yesterday I put to the engineering employers, after discussions with the unions, certain proposals involving direct talks between the parties, which might provide a basis for a resumption of work.

The representatives of the employers consulted their management board this morning and have informed me that they are willing to enter into direct negotia- tions with the unions. I very much welcome this helpful move on the part of the employers.

The unions are at this moment meeting my officials to discuss the position.

Mr. Robens

In view of the employers' offer to have direct negotiations, I am sure that it would be wrong for me to put some questions which probably have sprung to the minds of many of us after reading the Press today, but there are two other questions which I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman.

First, will these direct negotiations take place at the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry under his auspices, or will they go further afield and go back to ordinary direct negotiations? If they do, will they be held at the usual place, which, I understand, is the office of the employers' federation? Secondly, in view of the right hon. Gentleman's experience of this matter in the last few days, may I ask whether he regards this as really the last chance of saving the country from a very disastrous stoppage?

Mr. Macleod

The first talks, that is, the talks taking place now, are at my Ministry, but it is hoped as soon as possible to transfer them, on the basis of ordinary direct negotiations, to the employers' headquarters. That is my intention.

I think that the House would be wise to regard this forward move as a useful one but not to underestimate the many problems that still have to be solved, and, I hope, will be solved very quickly indeed. I think that the right hon. Gentleman's assessment is probably right. I also think that if we do not find a settlement very quickly on this basis, it is not at all easy to visualise an early or a quick end to either of these disputes.

Mr. Lee

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm the report that we have had that the employers have now decided that they will no longer abide by the constitution in relation to the avoidance of disputes in the engineering industry? If that is the case, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any further dispute in the industry cannot possibly come to him for conciliation, because there is no machinery by which negotiation can take place? That being so, would he use his good offices to get the employers to suspend this issue until there is greater clarity on the general issue?

Mr. Macleod

I think that it was a similar thought that lay behind the mind of the right hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) when he said that there were some questions that he would have put but which he would not put in view of the fact that direct negotiations had started. If I may say so, I think that that was the wiser approach of the two. I am sure that if a settlement comes on this, other matters will be solved.

Mr. Grimond

Do these talks cover the engineering industry only and that particular strike, or do they cover the shipbuilding industry as well?

Mr. Macleod

These immediate ones cover the engineering industry only. It may be that they will bring things to the same situation as they did in the shipbuilding industry, and then it may be possible for there to be a resumption of work in both disputes.

Mr. Lewis

While welcoming the progress made, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to a statement made last Wednesday about one of these strikers, who was threatened with imprisonment if he was still on strike this week? If I send the right hon. Gentleman particulars of the occasion when a county court judge made that statement, will he look into it and consider what action he can take?

Mr. Macleod

I will, of course, study anything sent to me by an hon. Member, but those matters are not directly within my province.