Mr George Isaacs: asked the Minister of Labour if he has any further information relating to the points outstanding in the dispute of D. C. Thomson; and if he will make a statement.
Mr George Isaacs: First let me express my thanks to the right hon. and learned Gentleman. I appreciate the very full answer he has given, but there are one or two points about which I should like to question him if I may. Is he aware that the ban on handling the firm's goods was lifted after conversations that created the understanding that to do so would lead to the return to work of some of the men...
Mr George Isaacs: Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that of the 74 men who were out, most of whom are in temporary employment, 17 or 18 of them have had to leave their home town in Scotland to find employment elsewhere? It seems as if the firm have not quite played the game in haying got the ban lifted and then punishing the men for joining the union which the firm now say they had no right to do.
Mr George Isaacs: Will the Minister look at the experience in the London Docks of a couple of years ago, when a similar problem arose and steps were taken considerably to improve the situation?
Mr George Isaacs: asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what power his regulations give a local authority that has served notice on an owner of property to carry out repairs necessary to be done to bring houses under his control into a sanitary condition and made fit for human habitation, to ensure that, in the interest of public health, the necessary work is executed in compliance with the legal...
Mr George Isaacs: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how this will apply in the case of an owner of property in many parts of London who may shortly become a guest in one of Her Majesty's institutions? What can the council do if this man is not in a position to give orders about repairs by which hundreds of houses could be put into good repair?
Mr George Isaacs: May I ask the Minister whether the party making application to the Minister for a court of inquiry have given any indication of their intention of resuming work while the inquiry is going on? In that event, would he approach the management of the firm with a view to their withdrawing the dismissal notices if such an arrangement were made?
Mr George Isaacs: Could the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell us whether he has any definite information about the so-called restrictive practices? Is he aware that the regulations concerning the entry of apprentices and trainees are arranged as a result of an agreement between the employers and the union, and that any suggestion of restrictive practices is a condemnation of the employers?
Mr George Isaacs: Is the Prime Minister aware that this decision will give considerable disappointment to ex-Service men and rather more than disappointment to ex-Service men's organisations? [HON. MEMBERS: "Nonsense."] If hon. Members opposite have nonsense in their minds, I cannot help it. I am trying to approach this matter on the general nonpolitical basis upon which this Ministry has always conducted its...
Mr George Isaacs: May I follow that up by a short point? We all accept the honest intention of the Prime Minister to see that they do not suffer, but we are doubtful whether this procedure will work. As there is so much detail to be considered, would the Prime Minister undertake to let us have a White Paper setting out those details before the Order in Council comes up, so that we may debate it with some idea...
Mr George Isaacs: asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that tenants in South London of the landlord calling himself D. Brady are receiving letters demanding arrears of rent and threatening legal proceeding and eviction from persons using fictitious names which are the reversal of the names of streets in which Brady has property, for example, Wootton Street converted into Nottow Limited, Sultan Street...
Mr George Isaacs: While I appreciate the answer which the hon. and learned Gentleman has given me, may I ask him whether persons resident in a country over which we have no jurisdiction have any legal power behind them in the threats which they are making to people about evictions?
Mr George Isaacs: Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that one famous boot manufacturing company this week declared a dividend of 62 per cent.?
Mr George Isaacs: Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is, in fact, no dispute between the unions and the firms concerned? Does he not agree that people should not interfere in these internal difficulties?
Mr George Isaacs: When the right hon. and learned Gentleman is able to proceed with this matter, will he give some preference to the provision of remand homes for women in the area south of London where very frequently we have to remand young persons to Holloway because there is no other accommodation?
Mr George Isaacs: Has the Minister considered employing disabled ex-Service men for jobs of this sort? They are men who, in many cases, have had considerable military experience and would be quite willing to take such posts, and that would prevent interfering with the training of the young.
Mr George Isaacs: If the men who accept this temporary withdrawal from the scheme apply to the Ministry for training in other occupations, will every facility be given to them for that training?
Mr George Isaacs: Does that apply to Eton and Harrow?
Mr George Isaacs: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the opening of the new station will relieve the residents in the locality of the nuisance of soot and grit now deposited by the old station, and that the earlier it is opened the better they will be pleased?
Mr George Isaacs: May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether, in bringing this matter to the attention of his colleagues, he will point out that in the borough of Southwark and in other London boroughs a great many people are living in insanitary conditions because they cannot trace their landlord "Mr. Brady," which is one of the names he uses? This landlord has accommodation addresses at all sorts of...
