§ 81. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what stage his negotiations with the Amalgamated Engineering Union for a modifica- 126W tion of the Relaxation of Customs Agreement of 1939 have now reached.
Mr. WardI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 30th April, 1952, to my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley (Mr. J. E. Crowder). The Amalgamated Engineering Union have since accepted my invitation to further talks and we are now waiting to hear from them when it will be convenient to meet.
§ 83. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that trade unions to which men employed in maintenance sections belong have different rules as to deregistration of dilutees after serving a certain time in skilled grade, that, in consequence, some men are handicapped in promotion by the union to which they belong; and what steps he is taking to ensure that all who were recruited as dilutees receive equality of treatment.
Mr. WardI am aware that the views of the craft unions on the treatment of dilutee workers are in some respects divergent. I hope to discuss shortly with the Amalgamated Engineering Union all the problems affecting dilutees which arise from the operation of the Relaxation of Customs Agreement, 1939.