Prices and Incomes (Limb-Fitters)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 March 1967.

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Photo of Mr Roy Hattersley Mr Roy Hattersley , Birmingham Sparkbrook 12:00, 7 March 1967

I now turn to some of the other things the hon. Gentleman said, such as the scorn he poured on the Order because it concerned only a small number of men. I disagree with that judgment, and agree much more with the point of view of the right hon. Member for Enfield, West (Mr. Iain Macleod) when he discussed another Order in the House on 13th December. In his view it was immaterial whether the number of workers affected was 30,000, 120 or only one. The important point was whether it was right in terms of equity, justice and Government policy that it should go forward.

I am happy to discuss the equity and propriety of the Order, but I want to get it clear that some of the points made are totally extraneous to the considerations of Government policy. It may well be—and the Government in no way contend anything other—that in terms of equity and justice and all the criteria laid down by the hon. Gentleman that the limb fitters of Roehampton are underpaid. It may well be that the claim that A.S.S.E.T. initially made on their behalf for a pay increase of £250 a year is justified in all abstract terms.

Because the Government were not sure what payment was justified, and because they wanted a guide and yardstick, they properly referred the claim to the Prices and Incomes Board. That was the intention of that reference. Had the union been prepared to allow the reference to go through in the normal way the unhappy events that followed need not have been brought about. I can give an assurance that, even though the Order is now in force, if the Prices and Incomes Board produces a report which says that in terms of Government economic policy, in the terms of the prices and incomes policy, that award or part of it should go through, the Government will use their powers to withdraw the Order and allow the payment to go on.

The Government are committed to and bound by whatever recommendation the Board may make. It is a great pity that the union and men were not prepared to allow that reference to take its natural course and await the report. I reiterate and make clear to all those right hon. and hon. Gentlemen—