§ 45. Mr. Albuasked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to encourage the setting up of a Joint Industrial Council in the engineering industry.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThere have been no developments since I replied to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Roy ton (Mr. Leavey) on 21st May, 1958. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. AlbuDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it time that he took some steps to improve the standard of management in the engineering industry? In particular, will he dissociate himself from the extremely reactionary and dangerous statement made by the Engineering Employers' Federation in a recent pamphlet on industrial relations?
§ Mr. MacleodIn reply to the first part of the supplementary question, as I made clear in the Answer to which I have referred, employers believe that a J.I.C. is unnecessary in the engineering industry because they have suitable machinery. I do not think that everybody would share their view on that. I certainly do not. The pamphlet certainly expressed many views with which I did not agree.
Mr. LeeWould the Minister agree that where there is an employers' federation in an industry which employs millions of workers, it is quite disgraceful to issue a statement that twice in four years the employers have been ready to have a show-down with the union and that they knew how long union funds would last if there were a strike? Surely, this is against the interests of both the Government and the Opposition, and the House should make it clear that it is disgusting to make such statements.