Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 March 1947.
Mr Joseph Sparks
, Acton
12:00,
11 March 1947
asked the Minister of Labour how many Acton firms have dismissed or refused re-employment to any of their work people consequent upon the resumption of electrical power to industry; and how many work people are so involved.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I regret that this information is not available, and I have no means of obtaining it.
Mr Joseph Sparks
, Acton
Is my right hon. Friend aware that at least one firm has been found to have been illegally using electric power, that the enforcement officer of the Ministry of Fuel and Power had to come down and cut it off, and that by way of retaliation this firm has dismissed 60 of its workpeople? Will he look into such cases?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
If the matter is brought to my attention in the proper way I will do so, but I think the trade unions should handle these matters.
Sub-Lieutenant Herschel Austin
, Stretford
In view of the lack of information on this point, which is reflected all over the country, would my right hon. Friend consider revising the machinery for the settlement of industrial disputes whereby he can intervene with out being called upon to do so by either the trade unions or employers?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
Most certainly not. The trade unions have a job to do and they should do it.
Mr Frederick Lee
, Manchester Hulme
Is my right hon. Friend aware that 2,500 engineers at Gardner's of Paticroft are only working at day rate and that the whole of the apprentices in the Manchester area may strike at any moment?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
In that case I wonder why they have not taken up the matter with their trade unions.
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.
