§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the interest in the proposals of the Committee on the Relations of Employers and Employed, he will publish a Return of industries in which joint councils have actually been set up, showing the names and addresses of the secretaries of these councils and the names of the organisations represented, together with a list of industries in which negotiations are at present proceeding for the formation of joint standing industrial councils?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is proposed to publish from time to time the information to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I am sending him the names and addresses of the secretaries of the joint standing industrial councils which have been established for the pottery, building, heavy1880W chemicals, gold, silver, and kindred trades, rubber and silk industries, together with the list showing the organisations represented on these councils. In regard to the concluding portion of his question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe, which contains the desired information.
§ Mr. E. CRAIGasked the Minister of Labour if he can state what progress has been made in the formation of joint industrial councils on the lines of the Whitley Report?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANTwo joint industrial councils for the pottery and building industries, respectively, have already held their first meetings. Joint industrial councils have also been constituted for the heavy chemicals, gold, silver, and kindred trades, rubber and silk industries, and the first meetings of these councils will be held during July. As a result of conferences, called as a rule by the Minister, considerable progress has been made in the following eight industries: Baking, cable making, commercial road transport, electrical contracting, furniture manufacture, leather goods and belting, matches, and vehicle building. Provisional committees have been appointed, and have drafted constitutions which have been sent out to the various associations concerned for their approval. A constitution for the printing industry has been drafted, but not yet sent out to the associations concerned for approval. As soon as the constitutions have been approved by the various associations, the first meetings of the councils will be arranged. In the case of the following five industries, conferences have already taken place, and have approved of the drafting of constitutions: Bobbin manufacture, boot and shoe manufacture, electricity (power and supply), roller engraving, and woollen and worsted. In the case of some twenty other industries, the associations concerned are giving careful considerations to the question of the formation of a joint industrial council, and in some of them arrangements have been made for summoning joint conferences.