HL Deb 21 June 1966 vol 275 cc238-40

2.38 p.m.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, in asking Her Majesty's Government the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, may I draw attention to a misprint? The word "newspaper "should, of course, be "newspapers".

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether inefficiency and restrictive practices still cause excessive manpower to be employed in the production and distribution of newspaper; whether they have evidence that the excess so employed is now less than the thirty-four per cent. mentioned by the Royal Commission on the Press that reported in 1962 (Cmnd. 1811); and, if so, what they estimate the present excess to be.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CHAMPION)

My Lords, we guessed that the word should be "newspapers" and not "newspaper". A comprehensive factual inquiry into productive and managerial efficiency in the national newspaper industry has been commissioned by the joint board for the industry, of which Lord Devlin is chairman. The results are expected later this year.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him whether he has observed that the views of the Royal Commission on the wastage of manpower in this industry have recently been strongly confirmed by the more recent Report on the printing industry by the National Board for Prices and Incomes? May I ask the noble Lord this further question? For how many persons needlessly employed in this industry will the employers receive the selective employment premium?

LORD CHAMPION

In answer to the last part of the question, my Lords, probably all of them if they are manufacturing. The first part of the noble Lord's question is about the information that will be available to this joint board. All this information will be made available to them, and undoubtedly they will take it into consideration when preparing their report. This is a committee of the joint board, and this committee will report to the joint board.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, does the Minister appreciate that, apart altogether from any further inquiry, as a result of two inquiries already made we know that there is grossly excessive manpower in this industry? Why do the Government wish to encourage the waste of labour in this way?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, the Government do not wish to encourage the waste of labour in any way. The Report of the Royal Commission in 1962, to which the noble Lord refers, sharply criticised the standard of efficiency in the national newspaper offices. It recommended at the same time that there should be a joint standing board, with oversight over the whole field of production, training and recruitment. Unfortunately, initial attempts to establish the body were not successful, but following a wages settlement in 1964 both the Newspaper Proprietors Association and the printing unions agreed to the establishment of a permanent joint board for the purpose recommended by the Royal Commission. We hope that their work will be successful.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, does the Minister appreciate that the Report of the Prices and Incomes Board which I cited was made in 1965, and are we correct in understanding from hisreply that for every man unnecessarily employed—according to two Reports—in this industry, the employers will receive a selective employment premium? Does he appreciate that by this means the employers are directly encouraged in the wastage of labour?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, we recognise the difficulty of this and the difficulty of this industry. We hope that this industry will clean itself up, and then the difficulties which the noble Lord mentions will not arise.

BARONESS PLUMMER

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend what happened during the ten years of the Tory Government when the same situation was in existence?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, I can only say that I think perhaps the position worsened a bit during that period.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, why should the industry clean itself up when it is paid to do the contrary?