Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any official information showing what is the number of cases during the last two years in which agreements entered into between employers and workmen have been broken, and in how many of such cases the breach was committed by the masters and the men, respectively; and whether it is proposed to take any, and, if so, what steps to give effect to the resolution passed by the Industrial Council on 12th June as to the observance of labour agreements?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe Board of Trade have no record of the number of cases in which agreements entered into between employers and workmen have been broken. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Prime Minister stated in this House on the 13th instant that the Government have requested the Industrial Council to undertake an inquiry into matters connected with industrial agreements. The Industrial Council have consented to undertake the inquiry and held their first meeting in regard to it yesterday.