§ Mr. Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give details of the Labour Disputes and Inquiry Bill and the Labour Board Bill recently passed by the Bermuda Legislature; and, in particular, whether workers' associations are now legal and able to negotiate on behalf of workers in Bermuda.
§ Mr. George HallThe Bills to which my hon. Friend refers have not yet been received in the Colonial Office. As soon as they are received, I will arrange for copies to be sent to my hon. Friend, but I under stand that they have now passed the Bermuda Legislature and will become law on the 1st January, 1946. They are entitled The Labour Board Act and the Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Enquiry) Act. The chief function of the former is to endeavour to settle labour disputes, to collect information relating to wages and terms and conditions of employment, and to operate an employment agency. The provision of arbitration tribunals and boards of enquiry for the settlement of labour disputes is the purpose of the second Bill.