§ 70. Mr. HAROLD SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it has come to his knowledge that the agreement arrived at on the 14th March between the Master Bakers' Protection Society and the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers has broken down by reason of the fact that the great majority of master bakers have refused to conform to the terms thereof; and whether he will consent to receive a deputation of the representativs of the union that they may submit to him statements with a view to satisfying the Board of Trade that the rate of wages prevailing in the trade is exceptionally low as compared with that in other employments, and that the other circumstances of the trade are such as to render the application of the Trade Boards Act, 1909, to the trade expedient?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I have been in communication with the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers and Confectioners respecting the agreement referred to in the hon. Member's question. As the Trade Boards Act Provisional Orders Bill has received its Second Reading in the House of Commons, and has been referred to a Select Committee, it is not possible during the present Session to make any addition to the trades enumerated in it. I would suggest to the hon. Member that it would be desirable to await the Report of the Industrial Council, which is expected shortly, on the question of the enforcement of industrial agreements, before considering the application of the Trade Boards Act to the baking trade.