HC Deb 16 May 1944 vol 400 cc50-1W
Sir R. Gower

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that despite promises made adequate facilities for the discussion of conditions of employment between his Department arid the approved trade unions and associations under the Trades Disputes Act have not been provided; and whether, as these bodies alone represent the industrial Civil Service staff and Admiralty establishments and as grave dissatisfaction is caused by the present Admiralty practice, he will institute an early inquiry into ways and means of evolving negotiating machinery which will give fair treatment to the thousands of industrial civil servants involved.

Mr. Alexander

I am not aware that any promises made for providing facilities for discussion with the approved associations have not been fulfilled. These associations are already afforded full facilities for making representation on matters affecting their members. If my hon. Friend, however, cares to send me particulars of any specific instance in which it is alleged that the approved associations have been refused a hearing by the Admiralty, I will look into it. These bodies, of course, do not alone represent the Admiralty Industrial staff; the national trade unions have a very large interest in the Admiralty workmen which finds expression through the Whitley machinery.

Captain Plugge

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the request of the Admiralty Industrial Civil Servants' Federation for arbitration about better facilities for negotiations between his Department and industrial civil servants employed in Admiralty establishments has been refused as not being a trade dispute and because the Government would not agree at present to any modification of machinery for wage negotiation; and whether, as the request only involves the implementation of promises made in general terms by his Department, he will reconsider taking suitable action to deal with this claim.

Mr. Alexander

It is not considered that the claim by the Admiralty Industrial Civil Servants' Federation for increased facilities for conducting negotiations with the Department is a suitable and acceptable subject for arbitration. As explained to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower), bodies such as the Admiralty Industrial Civil Servants' Federation already have adequate opportunity for direct approach to the Admiralty on matters affecting their members.