§ 66. Mr. ROBINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade, how many workers approximately have benefited from increased wages as the result of the Trade Boards Act; and how many does he anticipate will benefit in the trades which he proposes to include with the Provisional Order about to be introduced?
Mr. BUXTONIt is estimated that there are about 200,000 workpeople employed in the branches of trade at present included under the Trade Boards Act, but it is not possible to say how many of these have received an increase of wages as a result of the fixing of minimum rates by the Trade Boards. The trades proposed to be included within the Provisional Order are not yet precisely defined.
§ 67. Mr. ROBINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will include in the Provisional Order to extend the operation of the Trade Boards Act to the railway workers, or especially those now paid less than 21s. per week?
Mr. BUXTONI may remind my hon. Friend that machinery for the settlement of the rates of wages of railway workers already exists under the Railway Conciliation Scheme. It is, therefore, unnecessary to consider the question raised by my hon. Friend.