§ Mr. John Pageasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on his discussions with the employers and trade unions in the construction industry about industrial relations on large sites.
§ Mr. HareI asked representatives of the employers and the trade unions to meet me to discuss the special difficulties of relations on large sites some months ago. In the course of our discussions we agreed that employers and 169W unions in each of the four main groups of the industry should meet to discuss what steps might be taken to improve co-ordination and what arrangements might be made to enable disputes to be dealt with at an early stage, the procedures for settling disputes to work more effectively, and communications between employers and workers on the site to be improved. It was agreed also that the main contractor should have as much authority as possible for labour relations on the site.
The employers and unions in all four groups have now had discussions and have agreed on measures appropriate in the different sections of the industry which I am confident will benefit relations. I should like to acknowledge the co-operation and positive attitude of all concerned in examining these problems.
My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works has announced that for government contracts his aim will be to appoint a main contractor with the greatest practicable degree of responsibility for the whole of the work.