HL Deb 14 December 1948 vol 159 cc992-6

2.40 p.m.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, I beg to move that the Special Order, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday last, be approved. The purpose of the Order for which I ask the approval of your Lordships is to give effect to the provisions of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act, by the institution of a Development Council for the jewellery and silverware industry. The setting up of this Council will give effect to the recommendation of the Jewellery and Silverware Working Party. Although the Order follows very closely the Order made in respect of the furniture trade, which met with the approval of your Lordships a short time ago, I cannot claim that there is in regard to this Order the same degree of unanimity in the industry as was present in the case of the furniture trade.

I think it would be acceptable to your Lordships if I explained the reasons why that is so. The British Jewellers' Association (which is really a confederation of the employers' organisations, covering about 800 firms and representing about 75 per cent. of the total output of the trade) and the Society of Goldsmiths and Silversmiths and Kindred Trades (with a trade union membership of about 1,850) are in favour of the setting up of this Development Council. The Master Silversmiths' Association, representing about 78 silversmith firms, producing about 12 per cent. of the output of the industry—a purely local association, centred in Sheffield—are opposed to this Development Council Order.

I would remind your Lordships that this is a very difficult industry. It is composed of a multitude of small manufacturers. Just before the war 1,258 firms out of a total of 1,716 employed fewer than eleven workers each, and the industry has found great difficulty in adapting itself to present-day conditions. Its premises are old and antiquated, its plant is the same, and perhaps its old traditions and craftsmanship are themselves militating against the development which it desires. I do not think I should be in error if I stated that there is some disagreement between Sheffield and Birmingham and London as to which is the centre of this particular industry. Although the Master Silversmiths' Association is centred in Sheffield, with 78 firms, the British Jewellers' Association also has in its membership 277 silversmiths. It is upon the basis that the majority of the industry, both upon the employers' and upon the workers' side, require this Development Council, that this Order is before your Lordships for your approval. It is hoped that, by the provisions of the Order, the silverware and the jewellery trade—which can be looked upon only as one complete industry—will benefit and will be able to go ahead with the very good work they are doing. For a small industry they have made a substantial contribution to the export trade of this country during this last year or so. With that explanation, which I thought was due to your Lordships, I beg to move.

Moved, That the Special Order, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday last, be approved.—(Lord Lucas of Chilworth.)

2.48 p.m.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

My Lords, it certainly was very right that the Minister should give this clear and full explanation to the House. We get a great many orders of one kind or another, some important, some not so important, some supposed to be necessary and some supposed to be less necessary; but generally these industrial organisation orders are not orders which we should take as a matter of course sub silentio. As the Minister himself said on the last occasion, when we were all unanimous in supporting an order, it is absolutely essential that this should come forward, if possible, with the complete support of the whole of the industry. By that I mean the employers and the workers, and upon that support depends not only the power of the Government to make an order—because it is provided in the Act itself that this substantial majority is necessary for the making of an order—but the likelihood of the scheme working successfully. Here, as I understand it, there is not unanimity, although (if I followed the Minister aright) there is, both in the numbers of firms and in the numbers of workers engaged in the industry, a very large majority of both employers and workers who desire this Development Council.

This is a pretty complicated industry—I knew something of it when I was President of the Board of Trade. It varies from the largest firms to the tiniest firms of almost household family crafts. There is also the variation in quality, from the highest craftsmanship and the most skilled and beautiful designs to those less beautiful forms of jewellery, which are very useful—because, after all, the public want them—and which, I am glad to say, still enjoy a substantial sale in this country. For instance, there are union badges; the Primrose League badge is another example—and it is certainly desirable! This industry is not like the great textile industries where there has been tremendous organisation in the past, where all the ground is already well covered.

The position has not changed much. The vast majority want to come together for this common purpose and an industrial council or Development Council of this kind will help others who may wish to pursue that purpose. I am not entering into the merits of the claim as between Sheffield and Birmingham; I hope that it will not lead to too much internecine strife. Certainly the great bulk of the industry, both in Birmingham and in London is, I understand, in favour of this Order; and on that clear understanding, that a great majority on both sides want it, I think we ought to agree to it.

2.52 p.m.

LORD KENILWORTH

My Lords, I should like to say a few words on this matter. This Order is of a very far-reaching nature. Pains and penalties are specified therein if one is not willing to fall into line with the majority. Under Clause 8, any person who fails to comply with the requirements concerning the keeping and production of records is liable to a summary fine of not less than £5 for each day during which his failure continues. That is a very far-reaching provision to put into a development organisation order, which should really be devoted to the main conduct of business generally. I have been associated over a long period of years with the development of four important industries, all of which have been to the benefit of the country, and I can assure your Lordships that they did not grow up by reason of a development council. They were built up by hard work and progressive policies in regard both to industry and design.

It is stated in the Second Schedule of this Order that a function of the Council shall be: Promoting or undertaking measures for the improvement of design, including promoting or undertaking the establishment and operation of design centres. If anything can interfere with the development of what is, when all is said and done, an artistic business, I cannot imagine anything more likely to do so than this. To my mind, the effect of the Order will be to split up the industry into those who have business ability and those who have artistic qualifications, who will certainly not fall into the ruck of the general mass of people working in industry. They will break away, and if they do not break away it will be all to the detriment of the industry, for Great Britain does not hold the highest place for artistic jewellery. I believe that the French people have certain very good qualities in this connection. I feel quite sure that a Development Council such as this cannot really be of benefit to the jewellery trade.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Viscount, Lord Swinton, for his very helpful remarks and for the encouragement which I think the industry will derive from what he has said. I can assure him that 75 per cent. of the industry in both London and Birmingham really require this Order. The breakdown was caused because the Sheffield silversmiths wanted conditions to which the bulk of the industry could not and did not agree—namely, recognition of the silversmith as a separate industry. The Council will check any sub-dividing, and it is entirely for the Council to regulate their own affairs. I should like to make it clear that this Order is not being imposed upon the industry against its will. I feel certain that what the noble Viscount, Lord Swinton, has said, not only on this occasion but upon other occasions, will be of great encouragement to the industry, whose members desire to set their house in order.

With regard to what the noble Lord, Lord Kenilworth, said, perhaps he will look at the Second Schedule of the Order, in which he will see the scope of the Development Council. He will see that the principle is permissive. The Council—which represents the bulk of the industry—may ask for such statistics as it desires, but it is operated by the industry, and for the industry, without outside interference except that there is compulsion to send an annual report to the Board of Trade. I hope that this explanation will be satisfactory, and that your Lordships will now approve the Order.

On Question, Motion agreed to.