HC Deb 08 April 1925 vol 182 cc2219-20
49. Mr. ALEXANDER

also asked the Minister of Labour, in view of his letter, dated 23rd March, 1925, to the Grocery and Provisions Trade Board (England and Wales), in which he expressed the view that it is not certain that conditions as to wages and hours in the trade a-re such as to make the operation of statutory conditions advisable, and that he is therefore delaying the fixing of rates, whether he contemplates dissolving the Board; and whether, in view of the evidence given before the Cave Committee, showing the necessity for statutory conditions in this trade, he proposes to hold a public inquiry before taking any further action in the direction indicated?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

As stated in the reply on 25th March to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Sir D. Newton), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, I have instituted an inquiry into the conditions in this trade in order to satisfy myself whether the operation of statutory conditions is advisable. The action to be taken with regard to the future of the Board will depend on the results of the inquiry.

Mr. ALEXANDER

Is the inquiry going to be of a public nature, with evidence taken from all over the country, or are there going to be merely itinerant visits by inspectors?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

It will be a careful inquiry on the part of the Department. It is not a public inquiry, but if the hon. Member can send. or cause to be sent, any information that is material, we shall be exceedingly glad to have it, because the position of the Board has been unsatisfactory in every way, and things have dragged on for four years, and the reason that I have taken this action is to clear things up one way or the other, so as to try to get a proper condition of affairs.

Mr. ALEXANDER

But did not the Cave Committee suggest in their Report that before a Board is set up there should be a public inquiry, and is it not equally sound to say that before a Board is closed down there should be a public inquiry?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

If the result were to show that there was no sweating in the trade, so that it was desirable to close it down—I speak subject to correction on a point like this, because one does not wish to speak too positively without consultation with the authorities—I think it would require legislation in order to put an end to it. Consequently, there would be every opportunity for seeing that an end was not put to it without proper reason for taking that course.

Sir J. NALL

In view of their recent experiences, will co-operative societies be asked to assist in this matter?