§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the dispute covering the Fletton brick industry in Bedfordshire, and detail the issues involved.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithSome 1,300 Fletton brick workers went on unofficial strike on 7th June in protest against the terms of a wage and holiday agreement reached between the Fletton brick manufacturers and the men's union. Normal working was resumed on 9th June. On 3rd July, the effective date of the new agreement, there was a further unofficial stoppage over piece work rates involving 700 men at a number of brickworks in Bedford and Peterborough. Work was resumed on 7th July to allow negotiations to continue, and a settlement was reached on 10th July.