§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make an early statement to confirm the settlement of the Hunterston port dispute and certify that he will bring the port within the dock scheme.
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the implications for employment and productivity at other non-registered ports, and for costs at Hunters-ton, he will reject the request from the Trades Union Congress to institute procedures to subject the Hunterston ore terminal to registration.
§ Mr. MayhewI announced yesterday that the Government would set in motion the statutory procedure for designating Hunterston a scheme port under the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act 1946. This followed a request by the TUC and the two unions which will operate the terminal—the TGWU and Iron and Steel Trades Confederation—which was fully supported by the Clyde port authority and the British Steel Corporation.
The unions concerned have assured me that they are concerned exclusively with the special circumstances of Hunterston and that their request has no implications for other ports.