§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to the Written Answer to the hon. Member for Blaby, Official Report, 22nd February column 700, when the approach to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service by British Shipbuilders was made; and why the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has taken so 276W long to consider what assistance, if any, it might be able to give by means of conciliation.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand from ACAS that it met representatives of British Shipbuilders on 13th January at the latter's request to discuss what assistance it might be possible for the Service to offer on the issue concerning management grades at British Shipbuilders. The Service has informed me that it offered to explore the possibility of conciliation and that meetings with the interested parties are taking place for that purpose.