Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 9 December 1920.
Mr Benjamin Tillett
, Salford North
asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that efforts were made to settle through the Joint Industrial Council a dispute between the employers in the road transport industry and the National Transport Workers' Federation; that the employers refused to submit any proposals to the Council, and that one of the parties to the Council was the Motor Transport Employers' Federation; whether the employers insisted upon local negotiations, and that at present in consequence of the failure of such negotiations there is a strike at Bristol; is he aware that the Motor Transport Employers' Federation has issued an instruction to the employers at Bristol that they are not under any conditions to yield to the men's demands; and that the demands of the men if granted would produce a wage of only 73s. per week to car-men and 85s. per week to motormen in the circumstances; and is he prepared to order a public inquiry into the whole question?
Mr Anderson Barlow
, Salford South
I am aware of this dispute both in its national and local aspects. I have no knowledge of the instruction referred to. Settlements have been reached with a number of employés in Bristol, and the Ministry's local conciliation office is doing his best to compose the remaining differences. I do not think that the case is one which calls for an inquiry as suggested by my hon. Friend, but I need not say that the Department will continue its efforts.
Mr Alfred Short
, Wednesbury
Has the Minister taken any action since yesterday in connection wth the tramway dispute?
| MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT. | |||
| Particulars of the Provincial Offices of the Ministry and of the staff employed at each are as follows:- | |||
| Office. | Address. | Staff employed. | Approximate annual cost of staff, including travelling and incidental expenses. |
| £ | |||
| Irish Branch | Oriel House, Westland Row, Dublin | 41 | 16,138 |
| Edinburgh (Roads Office) | 5, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh | 5 | 2,218 |
| Area Transport Commissioners: | |||
| London, Eastern and Home Counties. | 12a, Charles Street, Haymarket, S.W. | 6 | 3,622 |
| Midlands | 19, Guildhall Buildings, Navigation Street, Birmingham. | 3 | 1,905 |
| Northern | Quebec Annexe 2, Park Place, Infirmary Street, Leeds. | 2 | 1,679 |
| Wales and Monmouth | 18, Dumfries Place, Cardiff | 3 | 1,849 |
| Southern and South Western | 23, Royal York Crescent, Clifton, Bristol. | 3 | 1,945 |
| Scotland | 5, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh | 3 | 1,717 |
| Sub-Inspecting Officer of Rail ways, Glasgow. | 250, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow | 1 | 1,000 |
| Total | - | 32,073 |
Mr Anderson Barlow
, Salford South
I think I must have notice. I do not think I can answer so recently as from yesterday without notice.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
