69. Viscountess ASTORasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that effect shall be given to the will of Parliament, since the recently published Report of Proceedings under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, shows that the Act is being administered to the prejudice of women, although, as stated in the Report, it was the intention of Parliament that there should be no such discrimination?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThe fixing of minimum rates of wages is entirely in the hands of the Agricultural Wages Committee, and every Committee has duly fixed minimum rates for female workers. The late Minister pointed out to the Chairmen of the Committees in April last that certain incidental provisions inserted in the Orders relating to men had not been applied in the case of women, and my right hon. Friend hopes that the special reference to the matter in the Report in question will receive the careful attention of the Committees concerned.