§ 38. Sir T. BENNETTasked the Minister of Labour whether the construction of an arterial road between Dartford and Erith, which the Kent County Council had undertaken for the relief of the unemployed, was being delayed owing to an instruction to the local labour exchange that the men employed must receive 1s. 11d. per hour, while the permanent road staff throughout the county are getting 1s. 2d. per hour; and whether he will support the county council in refusing to pay unskilled labour wages largely in excess of the wages of experienced roadmen and of agricultural labourers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe fixing of the rates of wages for this arterial road is a matter for the Kent County Council, who are carrying out the work and bearing half the cost. The statement which recently appeared in the Press over the signature of a member of the Kent County Council that the Government had instructed the Employment Exchange that the rate of wages must be 1s. 11d. an hour is incorrect. No instructions of any kind with regard to the wages to be paid have been issued by the Ministry of Labour to the Exchange. Some misunderstanding has probably arisen owing to the action taken by the Local Employment Committee at Dartford, the body entrusted with the duty of selecting men for work on the arterial road. This Committee, which consists of representatives of employers and employed, has declined to select men for this work at wages of 1s. 2d. per hour, on the ground that the rate is below the standard. The action to be taken in these circumstances is under consideration.
§ Mr. MILLSIs it not a fact that the Joint Industrial Council, a part of the Minister's own Department, had fixed a minimum rate of wages of 1s. 10d. per hour for that class of work, in the Dartford and Erith area, and that these men are being offered the rate paid in the middle of Kent?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWhether my hon. Friend is correct or not, I have said that the action to be taken is under consideration.
§ Major WHELERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the permanent staff of the Kent County Council, doing their own work in the rest of the county, are perfectly satisfied with 1s 2d. an hour?