§ 4.5 p.m.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I beg to ask the noble Viscount the Leader of the House the question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, whether His Majesty's Government have any statement to make on the progress of the dock strike.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (VISCOUNT ADDISON)My Lords, in reply to the noble Marquess, I think the best course is to repeat the statement made by the Prime Minister in another place this afternoon. The Prime Minister said:
"The number of those on strike in the London Docks this morning is 19,040. 5,877 dockers are at work. The general build-up of the Service Personnel is proceeding according to plan, and approximately 1,000 members of the Services are now engaged in the clearance of food cargoes. Members of the Services have cleared all the perishable foodstuffs, and from this morning the meat ships now lying in the port are being discharged in order to maintain the largest possible proportion of 2 carcase meat in this week's and next week's ration. The full ration of one shilling's worth of meat will be made up with canned corned meat in each case, Bacon and butter are also being discharged. It will be necessary to move other food cargoes lying in the ports, in order to avoid a breakdown in the distribution of other foodstuffs.
The stoppage extended this morning to the docks at Liverpool arid Birkenhead where, out of a total labour force of 16,000, it is reported that upwards of 4,000 dockers are on strike.
In these circumstances, His Majesty, who is in Scotland on a Royal Tour, has been advised to issue a Proclamation under the Emergency Powers Act, 1920, declaring that a state of emergency exists, and a Privy Council will be held for the purpose later to-day. Thereafter Orders in Council will be made giving powers to the Government to do all that is necessary both by deploying Service personnel wherever required for the maintenance of essential food supplies, and by the requisition of equipment for the maintenance of the life of the community. These regulations, as the House knows, are subject to an affirmative Resolution within seven days. Full use will be made of Service personnel in order to maintain the distribution of the food of the people and the economic life of the community.
The irresponsible action of a section of the workers is endangering the regular supply of food to the people and is inflicting grave injuries on the nation." 3 The Prime Minister added:
"I propose to make a broadcast speech at nine o'clock this evening, so that the nation may understand fully what is at stake."
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, the House will have heard with deep regret the serious statement that has been made by the Leader of the House. The Government may like to know that they can be assured of the support of noble Lords who sit on these Benches in any measure which they think it necessary to take in order to secure food and necessities for the British people. We shall, of course, wish to study the regulations when they come before this House, but we shall study them in a sympathetic spirit. I hope, too, that all possible means are being taken to make clear to the men concerned both the injury which they are doing to the country and the deplorable effect which is being created upon world opinion by irresponsible action at the present time.