HC Deb 21 July 1961 vol 644 cc1631-2

Lords Amendment: In page 33, line 11, leave out from "Authority" to end of line 13 and insert: , such number of persons appointed by the Authority, being officers thereof, as may be determined from time to time by the Authority, and such number of other persons so appointed, not being less than five nor more than ten, as may be so determined.

Mr. Soames

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Here again, I suggest that we might take at the same time the next two Amendments, also relating to Clause 35, which are consequential. This is a matter concerning the workers' committee. The first of these Amendments changes the proposed number of members and fulfils the promise which I gave to the House when we last considered the Bill that I would consult the Trades Union Congress and the Transport and General Workers' Union about the membership of the workers' committee and, if necessary, have an Amendment put down in the House of Lords. That was done with the agreement of the unions to allow between five and ten workers' representatives to serve on the workers' committee instead of the original five. The change is necessary to ensure that all interests are covered.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 33, line 30, at end insert: , and the Workers Committee may of their own motion make to the Authority representations on any matter arising or appearing to the Committee to be likely to arise out of an exercise or performance, or a proposed exercise or performance, of the Authority's powers or duties, being a matter appearing to the Committee to affect, or to be likely to affect, the interests of such workers as aforesaid; and it shall be the duty of the Authority to take into consideration any representation made to them by the Committee (whether on a matter on which consultation is sought under this subsection or of the Committee's own motion).

Mr. Soames

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This Amendment fulfils another promise which I gave to the House, that I would put down an Amendment to provide that there should be here a two-way traffic, so to speak; that the workers' committee should be empowered to make recommendations to the Authority on matters affecting the interests of those it represents, and that the Authority should be bound to take them into consideration. It has been drawn after consideration with the T.U.C.

Mr. Mellish

I should like to thank the Minister personally for the way in which he has carried out the promise he made when we were discussing this in this House some time ago. Since then I have met the workers' side, and the right hon. Gentleman will be glad to know that they are grateful for the way he received them and Mat these Amendments have now been made.

When the Bill has become an Act and the Authority is working, then, whether we like it or not, we shall want it to work well, and there will have to be a good deal of co-operation between both sides. This Lords Amendment and the previous ones have done much to allay suspicion, and I should like to put it on record that I am very grateful.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 42, line 36, at end to insert new Clause A.