HC Deb 17 April 1961 vol 638 cc763-5
3. Mrs. Braddock

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has made towards settling the dispute on Merseyside in the ship-repairing industry, which has caused a stoppage for nearly two months; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Hare

My officers had discussions with representatives of the employers and the union on 29th March, but no mutually acceptable basis for a resumption of work could be found. The District Committee of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions had an informal meeting with the Employers' Association on 13th April, but I am informed that no agreement was reached. My officers are keeping in close touch with the situation.

Mrs. Braddock

In view of the fact that this strike has been going on for so long and very little is known about it in the industrial field, except among those who are taking part in it, does the Minister not think that it has been a rather long time in which his Department has not taken steps to ensure that some negotiations take place on this matter? Is he aware of the difficulty that it is creating? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the position? Is he aware that in Liverpool a number of men who are not taking part in the strike are unemployed as a result and have had their unemployment pay suspended, which has created great financial difficulties for them?

Mr. Hare

I agree with the hon. Lady. This strike, of course, has gone on for a very long time, but I assure her that my industrial relations officers have been in touch with the parties since the strike started. On a number of occasions they have offered to convene a joint meeting to try to get a basis for the resumption of work, but neither the employers nor the unions have at any time shown any desire for my intervention, and until there are signs of a change in this attitude I do not think that I can do much to help.

Sir H. Oakshott

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a large number of men who are in no way personally involved in this dispute are out of work through absolutely no fault of their own and are denied unemployment benefit? Could he not see that justice is done to these people?

Mr. Hare

I will look at the difficulty. The strike has gone on for a very long time but, unfortunately, neither side has shown any sign of wishing me to intervene.

Mr. Lee

Could the right hon. Gentleman confirm that negotiating machinery has been exhausted long since in this dispute, and could he say whether he has approached the executives of the unions concerned to see whether arbitration or something of that sort would be acceptable?

Mr. Hare

I am in close touch and will do anything that can be helpful, but until there is a change of mind it is difficult to know what more we can do at this stage.