§ 42. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a Leicestershire footwear manufacturing firm sent ladies' and children's shoes to Cottons Wharf, Tooley Street, London, on 2nd July for export to Czechoslovakia on the s.s. "Ner" which sailed on 9th July without this consignment and 60 tons of other manufactures because dockers refused to work beyond 5 p.m. to get the goods away; since it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to increase exports in order to save the nation from bankruptcy, what new action is being taken to end this dock labour dispute; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GunterI am informed that the reason this consignment was not loaded on the s.s. "Ner" was not, in fact, a dispute about overtime working. As regards the general position in the docks I expect to have the report of the Devlin Committee very soon. It will be considered as a matter of great urgency.