§ 16. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress achieved in resolving all outstanding issues arising out of the recent dispute affecting the ambulance service in Essex.
§ Mr. DeakinsI am glad to say that this dispute has been settled and full normal working was resumed on 14th December. The question of the payment of meal allowances has been refered to the Joint Secretaries of the Ambulancemen's Whitley Council and a claim on behalf of some men that they were entitled to full pay for the period of the dispute has been referred to independent assessors.
§ Mr. NewensIs it not true that the cost to the public of paying 40 per cent. of the wages of those men who were involved in the dispute was nearly three times as great as the cost would have been of meeting in full the demands of the protected men about meal allowances, which led to the dispute? In view of this disgraceful waste of public money, is it not necessary that in future instructions should be given that men shall not be refused permission to man ambulances merely on the grounds that they have refused to undertake minor aspects of their duties?
§ Mr. DeakinsI do not think that the House is a place for a Minister to comment on a settlement of a very complex industrial dispute, which is not yet finalised. My hon. Friend, together with other hon. Friends, is coming to see me, and we can go into these matters in greater detail then.
§ Mr. NewtonWithout attempting to judge the specific issues of the dispute, may I ask the Minister if he is aware that from representations that have been made to me there seems to be genuine concern about how effective the normal procedures are for dealing with grievances? Has he himself considered this aspect? If so, does he think that there is something he can do to help?
§ Mr. DeakinsYes, there is something we can do. We have the report of Lord McCarthy on the whole of the Whitley Council machinery, also making strong recommendations for the development of a better joint consultative machinery in the areas and the regions of the National Health Service. These proposals are now up for discussion with all parties and I hope that eventually we shall develop a very much better industrial relations machinery than we have had in the past.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Durant, No. 17.
§ Sir Bernard BraineOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI must ask the hon. Gentleman to raise his point of order after Questions.
§ Sir Bernard BraineThis dispute, Mr. Speaker, affected my constituency and that of the hon. Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) more than any other——
§ Mr. SpeakerIs this a point of order? It is taking up time.
§ Sir Bernard BraineDoes not the hon. Gentleman accept——
§ Mr. SpeakerNo. Is there a point of order?
§ Sir Bernard BraineI thought that you were calling me, Mr. Speaker.