Colonel THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether, although it is some months since attention was drawn to the difference between the Education Committee of the Lancashire County Council and their school caretakers regarding conditions of labour, there is still no alteration in the position; that the trade union early last month asked a representative of the Department in Manchester to arrange for a meeting with the education committee, but so far nothing has resulted; and whether he can take any action to expedite a settlement of this case?
§ Sir R. HORNEThis matter has received the attention of the Department, whose representative in Manchester has been in frequent communication with both parties. It is understood that the Secretary of the Lancashire Branch of the National Federation of Caretakers has written to the Education Department of the Lancashire County Council accepting a 50 per cent. increase on pre-war wages as an increased wage and not as a bonus, that instructions have been issued by the Education Department to the local managers to pay this increase, and that other items of the caretakers' claims are to be considered at a conference of the parties in June.