asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the result of the representations made through his predecessor regarding the position of the clerical staff of Messrs. MacBraynes' subsidised services in relation to trade unionism and on their overtime pay position?

The meeting at the Ministry of Labour to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Simpson) on 10th May has taken place. At this meeting there was a full exchange of views between the managing director of the company and representatives of the Railway Clerks' Association; and the meeting was adjourned in order that the position might be further examined in the light of the discussion. In these circumstances I think that it is necessary to await the result of the further meeting which, I understand, will take place in due course.

While appreciating the position in regard to these discussions will the Minister himself make it clear to this subsidised company that the people who pay the subsidy expect the best conditions of working?

I think that the less I say at the moment the better.