HC Deb 24 March 1970 vol 798 cc376-7W
126. Mr. Geoffrey Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many employees of ports businesses, who are not registered dock workers, she estimates to be threatened with redundancy by implementation of the recommendations of the Bristow Committee.

Mr. Harold Walker

Implementation of the Committee's recommendations would place on the National and London Dock Labour Boards responsibility for deciding whether, and if so to what extent, existing employees on work brought within the Scheme should be replaced by other workers.

127. Mr. Heseltine

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is her policy regarding the recommendations of the Bristow Committee.

128. Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will consider setting up an independent public inquiry to establish the implications within the transport industry in terms of redunancies, and wage and price increases, of the proposals of the Bristow inquiry.

Mr. Harold Walker

As the hon. Member for Tavistock (Mr. Michael Heseltine) was informed as recently as 20th March my right hon. Friend is still considering the Committee's recommendations in the light of the many representations received from other interested organisation; these include the suggestions of an independent public inquiry.

129. Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations she has held with the trade unions to establish the effect on their members of the recommendations of the Bristow Committee.

Mr. Harold Walker

My right hon. Friend has received representations against the recommendations from the National Union of Railwaymen, the Transport Salaried Staff Association, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and the United Road Transport Workers Union. She has also asked the Transport and General Workers Union whether they have any views additional to those expressed through the committee by their London docks representatives and am awaiting a reply.

130. Mr. Stainton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what representations she has received about the possible application of the principal recommendations of the Bristow Report to ports other than London; and what reply she has given.

Mr. Harold Walker

My right hon. Friend has received many representations against any similar change in the definition of "dock work" in ports other than London; she has pointed out that the recommendations relate solely to London.