§ Sir STEPHEN COLLINS (by Private Notice)asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make as a result of the deputation which he received on Tuesday last from the representatives of organised labour?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am glad to have the opportunity of correcting the un-authorised and misleading report of the proceedings of a private meeting which has been made public.
The deputation, which was representative of the great body of organised labour, expressed the view that, as the result of the communication made by the Government to the Committee on Production, hardship was likely to be caused in the case of low-paid workers and in cases which should be properly included in the class of local adjustment.
I have consulted with Sir George Askwith on the points raised, and am able to state that, having regard to the Government's communication referred to and the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Attercliffe on 20th January in this House, the Committee on Production consider that in the matter of the low-paid wage earners their discretion is not fettered by the communication of the Government. This applies also to the case of local adjustments, a term which appears to cover as accurately as possible the class of cases which the Government had in view.