§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received communications from the Ulster Drug Trade Association pressing for the setting up of a Whitley Council; and whether he proposes to accede to their request?
Mr. ROBERTSNo communication has been received from the Ulster Drug Trade Association as such, but a letter has been received from Mr. J. C. Calbert, of Belfast, raising various points in connection with a proposal to form a Whitley Industrial894W Council for the drug trade in Ireland. It is the policy of the Government to encourage the formation of joint industrial councils in industries which are highly organised on the side both of the employers and of the employed. In the case of other industries-the Government's policy is to establish trade boards, and I am at present considering the position of the drug trade in Great Britain and Ireland in connection with proposals to apply the Trade Boards Acts to the wholesale and retail distributive trades.