§ 89. Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make available the conciliation services of his Department to resolve the industrial dispute involving drivers employed by Spencer Abbott of Birmingham, in view of the hardship caused by the resulting difficulties in delivery of boiler fuel.
§ Mr. BryanThe dispute affecting drivers employed by Spencer Abbott & Co. Ltd., involves a union claim for replacement of bonus payments by overtime payments and for an increase in the basic weekly rate from £21 10s. to £28 5s. I understand that the company has offered an increase on the basic rate of £3 15s. per week and that it
428Wcould be obtained only at a disproportionate expenditure of time and money. The saving to the Exchequer if these ancillary benefits were taxed depends on the circumstances of individual Ministers.