§ 16. Sir J. Edenasked the Minister of Labour what immediate steps he proposes to take to promote the more efficient use of manpower in industry so as to help the increase in exports now necessary in the light of the devaluation of the £ Sterling.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe promotion of the more efficient use of manpower is a continuing and complex process which the Government have assisted through a number of measures. This policy will be continued and developed.
§ Sir J. EdenThe Government are always paying lip service to this, but when are they really going to do something about restrictive practices? When will they act? Is not the matter now extremely urgent?
§ Mr. HattersleyI am not sure what restrictive practices the hon. Member refers to. If they are some of those we have heard about over the last fortnight or month, I think he will remember that we regard our Obligation as one which involves waiting for the report of the Royal Commission on trade unions.
§ Mr. John HallIs the hon. Gentleman aware that when I have tried to obtain Information by means of Parliamentary Questions about productivity of our own industries compared with that of our major overseas rivals, I have been told that no such information or comparison existed? How can the Government help productivity when they do not know this?
§ Mr. HattersleyI am aware that the hon. Member has sought that information, but I am not surprised that he has found it impossible to come by it. Clearly the problem is so complex that international comparisons are meaningless. What I think I can assure him and the House is that we are doing all we can to build up productivity levels and to improve the position here in Britain.