§ 71 and 72. Major M'KENZIE WOODasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Statutory Order made by him on 24th March, 1919, under the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1918, fixes the same rates of pay for rural areas as for London; whether he will amend the said Order so as to take into account the difference in the cost of living between rural districts and large towns; (2) whether his notice has been called to the hardship caused by the rates for learners laid down in the Statutory Order, dated 24th March, 1919, under the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1918; whether a girl of eighteen who has been in domestic service and wishes to acquire some knowledge of sewing is likely to be deprived of the opportunity of getting the experience she desires by the fact that the Order fixes her pay at more than her services are worth; and whether he will amend the Order so as to make rates of pay dependent upon length of service and not upon age?
The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir R. Home)The rates prescribed by the Order in question have effect in all districts in Great Britain. I would observe, however, that they are minimum rates. As regards learners' rates, representations have been received from employers that the rates are too high and from employés that they are too low. They depend on length of service to the extent that those entering the industry for the first time receive for the first year Id. an hour less than the rate for women who have had some previous training in the industry. It is open to employers and employés to agree upon a substituted rate under the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, and such agreement, when submitted to the Department in accordance with the Act, may be put into operation on receiving the approval of the Minister.