Barry Docks (Dispute) (Hansard, 13 April 1976)

§ 17. Mr. Ridley
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will visit the banana wharf at Barry Docks to discuss the dock work dispute.

§ Mr. Booth
No, Sir. The independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is the appropriate body to give such assistance as may be required by the parties concerned in industrial disputes.

§ Mr. Ridley
If the Secretary of State will not go to Barry, will he have a word with Mr. Jack Jones and ask him to explain to the banana seven why they have lost their jobs to the dockers, and why the Government are insisting on introducing a Bill to make sure that sort of thing goes on to a much greater extent in the future?

§ Mr. Booth
The hon. Gentleman, who serves on the Dock Work Regulation Bill Committee, is aware that the Bill will introduce, in respect of what is defined as dock work, a test that is different from that which applied in the Barry case. That is one of the reasons why we are introducing the Bill—to ensure that difficulties such as those at Barry do not arise again.
As for talking with Mr. Jack Jones about the effect of present dock work regulations and the introduction of new legislation, I gladly assure the hon. Gentleman that I have talked to Mr. Jones at 1136 length on the issue, and I shall do so again should it be necessary.

§ Mr. McCartney
Will my right hon. Friend take into account the fact that the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) has either been deliberately misleading the House and the Dock Work Regulation Bill Committee or he is badly misinformed? The fact is that our members at Barry—members of the Transport and General Workers' Union—accept that the Bill and the existing scheme have nothing to do with the situation at Barry. Is my right hon. Friend aware that Geest Industries Limited has made a statement to the union which confirms the statements that I made—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Time for Questions to the Prime Minister is now being taken.

§ Mr. Booth
I am aware of the matters mentioned by my hon. Friend. The Transport and General Workers' Union was very conscious at national level of the problem created by the determination shown at Barry, and went to considerable lengths in negotiation to try to safeguard the employment position of those displaced by the decision.

§ Mr. Ridley
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the Minister's unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.