§ Considered in Committee.
§ [Mr. WHITLEY in the Chair.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That it is expedient to authorise the payment, out of money provided by Parliament, of remuneration and expenses in connection with the Interim Court of Arbitration, constituted under the Act of the present Session, for prescribing minimum rates of wages during a limited period, and for repealing certain provisions of the Munitions of War Acts."—[Mr. George Roberts.]
§ Mr. WATTIn respect to such a Resolution as this we ought to have some explanation from the Front Bench as to the amount of money required. We have had two promises from the Front Bench that Resolutions of this sort should have some limitation put to the amount of money that the Department is asking for from Parliament. The Leader of the House has practically promised that hereafter no Resolutions of this sort would be put before the House without first of all some indication of what is the amount likely to be spent; and, secondly, and more important, some limitation of the amount that Parliament is asked to grant. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will see his way on this occasion to give the information to the Committee.
Mr. ROBERTSIf my memory serves me right, the desirability of some such procedure being adopted has been admitted from this bench. It is very difficult, however, to fix a definite figure. I am anxious to meet my hon. Friend as far as possible, and, perhaps, I had better give him the estimate we have of the proposed expendi- 3314 ture under the Bill, the Second Reading of which has been agreed to. Under it, Arbitration Boards will be set up on the lines of the Committee of Production. The Arbitration Boards to be established by the Ministry of Labour will consist of representatives of employers and workmen, with an independent person as chairman. It will be necessary to revise the fees payable to the members of the Courts of arbitration and also the salaries of the staff attached to the Courts. There will also be expenses incurred in connection with shorthand writing. The Bill will be in operation for a period of six months, and the best estimate I can form on the advice of those competent to advise in the matter is that the expenditure for that period in respect of this Bill will be about £30,000. But I cannot commit myself to that figure.
§ Mr. WATTI beg to move, at the end, to add the words, "Provided that the sum shall not exceed thirty thousand pounds."
I presume the right hon. Gentleman is willing that a limitation should be put on the estimate and that it shall be confined to the sum which he has adumbrated. It is known that a statement from that bench as to the expenses does not really bind the Department, and I think it is the duty of this House to put on a limitation so that the sum adumbrated shall be adhered to.
Mr. ROBERTSI believe, on a previous occasion, I set an example from this bench in the acceptance of an estimate. As far as I am concerned I am not unwilling to accept these words, on the understanding that I am not definitely committed to the estimate, and if we have to slightly exceed the expenditure we can again come to the House.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Main Question, as amended, put, and agreed to.
§ Resolution to be reported To-morrow.