§ 34. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he now has to refer industrial disputes to the National Industrial Relations Court.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIt is the Government's view that industrial disputes should be settled whenever possible by negotiation, conciliation and arbitration, and that recourse to the National Industrial Relations Court should be made only in the last resort.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will 49W give as much information as may be readily available of the costs involved in the applications made by him to the National Industrial Relations Court for orders under Sections 138 and 141 of the Industrial Relations Act; and what fees were paid, or are due to be paid, to Mr. T. H. Bingham, Q.C., Mr. B. Davenport and Mr. P. Scott.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkNo further information about costs is available at present. It is not the practice to disclose fees paid to individual counsel.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment why he will be unable to give the legal cost of action by Her Majesty's Government in connection with references to the National Industrial Relations Court for some considerable time; and whether he will take action to speed up the presentation of information available to hon. Members.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkProceedings involved counsel acting for the Secretary of State for Employment in hearings before the National Industrial Relations Court and the Court of Appeal. It is always some time before the appropriate fees in such cases can be finally agreed and approved; but my right hon. Friend will see that this is done as soon as possible.