HC Deb 25 April 1966 vol 727 cc339-40
19. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has made in his discussions with both sides of industry on the application of the Redundancy Payments Act to the shipbuilding and repair industries.

20. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the application of the Redundancy Payments Act as it applies to employees in the ship-repairing industry.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

It was recognised when the Redundancy Payments Act was passed that because of special circumstances in particular industries it might be difficult for employees to acquire the minimum service with one employer to qualify for a redundancy payment. My right hon. Friend therefore discussed the application of the Act to shipbuilding and ship-repairing with both sides of the industry on 8th March. They have since embarked on joint discussions and will report to my right hon. Friend in due course.

Mr. Blenkinsop

First, may I ask my hon. Friend to accept our congratulations on her appointment. Secondly, will she note that these discussions have a very close bearing on the whole programme for the possible reorganisation and modernisation of the shipbuilding industry and press on as rapidly as possible with these discussions?

Mrs. Williams

My right hon. Friend is aware of the importance of this matter as part of the modernisation of the shipbuilding industry.

Dame Irene Ward

Can the hon. Lady explain, in view of the importance of this matter, why the discussions did not take place before the Act was passed? Can she give any indication of how much longer the men concerned, as well as the employers, will have to wait before they know what their rights are under the Act?

Mrs. Williams

Under the Redundancy Payments Act, Section 11, provision was made for industries with particular problems such as the shipbuilding industry. In answer to the second part of the supplementary question, the introduction of the guaranteed week has meant that there are additional complications which the Ministry and both sides of the industry have had to consider in drawing up a local scheme.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the Minister realise that this problem is of the utmost importance to British shipbuilders, having regard to the way in which Japanese and other foreign nations compete with our shipbuilders? Will she give special attention to this problem from that point of view in order to preserve the British shipbuilding industry?

Mrs. Williams

Yes, we are well aware of the importance of this matter.

Dame Joan Vickers

Is the hon. Lady considering this working in the dockyards as a whole, including Her Majesty's dockyards?

Mrs. Williams

The discussions at the moment apply strictly to the shipbuilding industry, but I will bear in mind the point made by the hon. Lady.

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