§ 26. Major WARINGasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he has held any inquiry since the publication of the remedial measures for agriculture which has led him to suppose that the establishment of conciliation committees is still undesired by the agricultural community in Scotland: and, if not, will he institute an inquiry before finally deciding not to adopt that recommendation of the Agricultural Tribunal?
§ Captain ELLIOTNo special inquiry has been recently made or is considered necessary, seeing that it is open to the Scottish Farm Servants' Union or to the National Farmers' Union of Scotland at any time to approach the Board of Agriculture 1152 if they decide to modify the attitude which they have hitherto adopted as to the formation of conciliation committees. I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the Agricultural Tribunal excepted Scotland from their recommendation regarding the establishment of wages boards.
§ Major WARINGMay I ask whether, in the hon. and gallant Gentleman's opinion, Scotland should be excluded?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs the Conciliation Committee not a wages board?
§ Captain ELLIOTThe point is that neither the employers nor the employés requested that these arrangements should be made. If they have changed their opinion and now wish such arrangements to be made, it is open to them at any time to approach the Board and intimate their change of opinion.
§ Major WARINGIs it not a fact that the tribunal suggested certain remedial measures for agriculture, and, at the same time, suggested that the agricultural labourer should participate through the conciliation boards?
§ Captain ELLIOTIf the agricultural labourers in Scotland consider that they would obtain better terms by direct negotiation, it is obviously not the duty of the Board of Agriculture to interfere.