§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent industrial training boards are already financing the training of shop stewards, and to what extent they are encouraging more training for shop stewards.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, 20 training boards make provision in their grant schemes for the training of shop stewards, and others are considering the matter. These grants normally cover, wholly or in part, course fees, reasonable travelling and subsistence expenses, and salary or wages for the period of absence. I regret that information about the total amount of grant paid is not readily available.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Without more precise figures it is difficult to say whether it should give us satisfaction or not. But is the noble Lord satisfied that the present scale of training of shop stewards is a match for the extra responsibilities that will be laid upon them by the development of plant bargaining, which is now being advocated from all sides?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, the noble Lord will be aware that there is a considerable passage in the White Paper on industrial relations in which the Government say that they are urgently considering ways of improving the situation; and one of the aspects of further training will be in the field of shop stewards. To 298 that extent there is still more that we believe should be done; but, of course, there is a great deal going on, and a great deal being done by the trade unions themselves.
§ LORD BLYTON My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the paper that was issued yesterday by the Trades Union Congress, A Programme for Action, is one of the finest documents that has been produced? And is he further aware that we do not mind the Government going with the trade unions to the stake, but for God's sake do not take the Parliamentary Labour Party!
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, my noble friend's remarks are always interesting and important, but not always relevant to the Question.