§ Mr Brooksasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give details of the dislocation of services experienced by municipal bus undertakings during the period since the trade unions' side terminated the National Agreement and withdrew from the National Joint Industrial Council.
§ Mr. GunterI understand that of the 91 municipal bus undertakings in membership of the Federation of Municipal Passenger Transport Employers, 17 have been affected by strikes and 10 still are. A high proportion of the undertakings have been affected by bans either on overtime or on carrying standing passengers or on both. 46 undertakings are at present affected by such bans.
§ Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give details of the action he has taken, and proposes to take, to help resolve the current difficulties in the municipal bus industry.
§ Mr. GunterSince the Trade Union Side withdrew from the National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Passenger Transport Industry on 12th October, efforts have been made to find a basis of settlement. The Ministry's Chief Conciliation Officer had separate meetings with the trade unions and the employers on 17th and 23rd October and joint meetings on 3rd and 9th November. I also had meetings with the Federation on 23rd and 30th November and with the trade unions on 28th November. I am meeting the trade unions again today.
§ Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish the terms of his reply to the Federation of Municipal Passenger Transport Employers, who, in a resolution sent to him on 17th November, sought his good offices to help 391W re-establish national negotiating machinery in the industry.
§ Mr. GunterNo written reply was sent but the resolution and the current difficulties in the industry were discussed when I met representatives of the Federation on Thursday, 23rd November.