§ 32. Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the increasing practice of magistrates merely to fine offending employers who are convicted of non-payment of trade board rates, and not to order the payment of arrears owing to the workpeople; and that, although arrears are sometimes secured privately by negotiation between the officers of the Ministry and the employer, the fact that no publicity is given to this repayment is encouraging certain employers to risk non-payment in the belief that, if discovered, a small fine will absolve them from the payment of large arrears; and whether he will order to be published quarterly, in the "Labour Gazette," the aggregate amount of arrears in each trade under the Act recovered during that quarter from employers as a result of inspection?
§ Mr. BETTERTONUnder the Trade Boards Act the Court is enabled, but not bound, to order payment of arrears if wages for a period not exceeding two years by an employer convicted of an offence against the Acts. The experience of the Department is that the Courts commonly exercise this power and I am not aware of any ground for supposing that there is any tendency for them not to do so or that employers are influenced by a belief that their liability for failing to comply with the Act is in practice limited to a small fine. As regards the last part of the question, I am afraid the pressure on the space in the "Labour Gazette" is such, that room cannot be found for the suggested particulars. These particulars, however, besides being furnished regularly to the Trade Boards, 1520 will be published in a Report on the work of the Ministry during 1923 and 1924, which is to appear shortly.
§ Miss WILKINSONIn reference to the first part of the question, is the hon. Gentleman not aware that there are many very well known cases in which arrears have been recovered?
§ Mr. BETTERTONWe have no authority over the action of the tribunal which tries these cases. I have not in mind the case to which the hon. Member refers, but, on the other hand, I know that there are very many cases in which orders for very large amounts were made.
§ Miss WILKINSONWhy is there such a difference of procedure on the part of Departments when there is money owing to the workers, and when it is a question of Income Tax due to the Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of argument.