§ 54. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will grant an inquiry into the effect of the abolition of agricultural wages boards and into the degree of success obtained by the county conciliation committees in maintaining an adequate standard of wages in agriculture?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI have been asked to reply. I am advised that the county conciliation committees established by the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act have met with a considerable measure of 282 success, agreements having been reached in 55 areas. In September last there were 49 agreements actually in operation. The recent fall in the prices of agricultural produce has checked for the moment the settlement of winter wages in many districts, though there are 17 agreements in force at present, of which 11 have been come to during the past six weeks. The Government do not think that an inquiry would bring to light any facts not already known.
§ Mr. BUXTONIf an inquiry cannot be granted for the whole country, can one be granted for those counties where wages have fallen below subsistence level?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI will consider that.