Colonel BURNasked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the advisability of setting up a court of inquiry under the Industrial Courts Act, Part II, with a view to avoiding the dislocation of trade and the suffering involved by the prolongation of the present industrial dispute?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the disputes in the engineering and shipbuilding trades. In the case of the former, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Kirkdale (Mr. Pennefather), a copy of which I am sending to him. In the case of the latter, an informal meeting between the parties took place last Friday, at which the whole position was, I understand, discussed. Representatives of the trade unions reported to me last evening the result of their consideration of the points raised at that meeting, and I have invited representa-450W tives of the employers to meet me to-day. I do not think that it would be advisable in these circumstances to make a statement now as to the action to be taken.