§ 11.7 a.m.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true that there is a serious shortage of labour to keep the permanent way on the railways in proper shape and order; and that the trade unions refuse their consent to the proposal of the Ministry of Transport to import Italian labour, in order to ensure that the maintenance work which is vitally necessary to the safety of the trains may be carried out.]
§ THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (THE EARL OF SELKIRK)My Lords, the British Transport Commission assure me that although there is a shortage of permanent-way staff, the essential standards of the safe working of trains at permitted speeds are being maintained. The question of the importation of foreign labour necessarily involves wide issues, and I think it is right that the British Transport Commission should, in the circumstances, decide whether that is desirable or not.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I beg to thank the noble Earl for his reply to my Question. I should like to ask him whether or not it is the fact that the Transport Commission asked for 2,000 Italian railwaymen for permanent-way maintenance?
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, I am afraid I cannot confirm whether or not that is so, but I think the noble Lord will appreciate that the difficulty about permanent-way staff is essentially local—there are some places where there are too many and some places where there are too few. I think the Transport Commission are anxious not to create greater difficulties than already exist by making proposals of that character.