§ 59. Sir H. CROFTasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give a comparison of the average wages paid in the iron and steel works in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany to the various classes of workers compared to the wages of similar workers in this country?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI regret that the information in my possession is insufficient to provide a basis for such a comparison.
§ Sir B. PETODoes not the hon. Gentleman think it is important to those whose interests he specially represents, namely, the wage-earning classes, that his Department should have this information with regard to the wages paid in our staple trades and on the Continent?
§ Mr. BETTERTONSince my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft) put down a similar question last February, we have made every effort to obtain the information. We tried to get it from, among other sources, the International Labour Organisation at Geneva. We have done our best to get it, but we have failed.
§ Mr. AUSTIN HOPKINSONIs it not the case that in these trades, such a large proportion of the wages is on a piece-work basis, that it is practically impossible to get a useful comparison between one country and another?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat may be so, but, whatever be the cause, I have been unable to obtain any reliable information which I could present to the House.
§ Mr. HANNONWhat in the world is the use of the International Labour Organisation at Geneva to the working-classes of this country?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is rather a large question.