§ 36. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been called to the statement by the then head of his Department in June, 1915, that the Government would see that there was no sweated labour among the women doing war work and that there should be a fixed minimum wage for the women workers; whether any minimum for these women has been fixed; and, if so, will he state what the minimum is?
§ Dr. ADDISONIn pursuance of the powers conferred on the Minister by Section 6 of the Munitions of War (Amendment) Act, 1916, the rates of wages covering nearly the whole field of female labour on munitions work have now been laid down in Circular L.2 and Statutory Rules and Orders Nos. 447 and 456, and are now-being applied. No payment at a lower rate than that specified in the Orders is permissible in any area or trade to which the Orders apply. If my attention is called to any case where sweating is alleged on munitions work, I will inquire into it at once and take any necessary action.