§ Mr. WIGNALLasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a wages dispute has existed for some time at His Majesty's factory, Pembrey, and an agreement was come to by which the matter in dispute should be referred to arbitration under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, and that the Ministry of Munitions withheld its consent for the matter to be referred to the industrial courts for settlement, with the result that the dispute still exists; and will he take steps to see that the objection of the Ministry of Munitions is withdrawn, and that the matter in dispute shall be referred to arbitration for final settlement?
Mr. HOPEI have been asked to answer this question. The application of the award of the Industrial Court relating to the chemical trades, 4th January, 1921, to employés in the Ministry of Munitions depot at Pembrey was withheld on the grounds that the work at present performed is of a class to which chemical trade awards are no longer applicable. The Department is unaware of any agreement to submit the matter to arbitration under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, but they are prepared to pursue it by communicating with the union concerned with a view to coming to an agreement on the point at issue, 1447W and, failing which, that it should be submitted to the Miscellaneous Trades Trade Joint Council for consideration