HC Deb 06 August 1924 vol 176 cc2997-8

Lords Amendment:

In page 3, line 7, at the end insert: if an application for a permit is not disposed of within twenty-one days after the day on which it is received, then the employer of the worker to whom the application relates shall not be liable to any legal proceedings under this Act for paying wages to the worker at a rate less than the minimum rate during the interval between the expiration of the said period and the date on which the application is ultimately disposed of.

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. R. SMITH)

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the, said Amendment."

These words are inserted for the purpose of giving some protection against delay in regard to permits.

Mr. FOOT

Suppose a sub-committee has to deal with a workman who is not entitled to his full wage, and that sub-committee is extraordinarily slack in meeting, will the hon. Gentleman tell us what pressure can be brought to bear to hasten its decision, and whether there may not be a danger that a workman will suffer?

Mr. DUKES

So far as I have been able to read this Bill, there is no provision whereby a sub-committee is compelled to meet at certain fixed periods. There is no period established, and all that will occur under the Lords Amendment is that when 21 days have elapsed it automatically gives to the farmer the privilege of employing a man below the fixed minimum rate. I think it is a dangerous principle to accept.

Mr. W. R. SMITH

One must be guided by the experience under the previous legislation, and there was not then any great tendency to delay. So far as I am concerned, I think it will work very well.