§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Social Security (1) what representations have been made to her regarding the payment of National Insurance contributions and 363W the receipt of benefit during trade disputes whether strikes or lock-outs; and whether she will take action in advance of any recommendations of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers Organisations, in view of the urgency of the situation created by the current lock-out of shipbuilding draughtsmen who are not in dispute with their employers;
(2) whether she will introduce amending legislation in advance of any recommendations of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers Organisations to require employers to pay contributions in respect of employees not in dispute but whom the employer has locked-out.
§ Miss HerbisonI have received a number of representations about various aspects of the trade dispute disqualification for unemployment benefit. This is such a complex matter and goes so deeply into the field of industrial relations, that I must await the report of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations before I can consider changes in the present position.