§ Mr. Garry Allighanasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the original trouble at the Birkenhead docks was due to the fact that the men were sent, under the North-West dock scheme operated by his Ministry, to a firm which, being non-federated, was not working under any union agreements; and will he in future refrain from directing workers to firms which do not accord them union protection.
§ Mr. BarnesNo, Sir. This was not the cause of the dispute. It has never been a condition of the scheme that all approved employers must be members of the employers' association, and in fact many of the approved employers on Merseyside are not members. All employers, however, must comply with the conditions prescribed by the regional port director as being essential or desirable to facilitate the general working of the port. The regional port director is advised by a committee consisting of representatives of the employers' association and of the trade union. This committee advises on questions affecting the efficient operation of the scheme and the conduct of employers.