§ 3. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Labour if he has received an application from the Joint Industrial Council, representing manufacturers and opera 824 tives in the boot and shoe industry, asking him to consider the question of the legalisation of national agreements so as to give the national agreement of this industry the same effect as that given to Trade Board awards; and what action his Department proposes to take in the matter?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)A deputation was received yesterday from the Association of Joint Industrial Councils and Interim Industrial Reconstruction Committees, of which the Boot and Shoe Trade Joint Industrial Council is a member, and I am giving careful consideration to the views they expressed on the subject of the compulsory extension of Joint Industrial Council decisions. I would add that, as the hon. Member is probably aware, the wages agreements in the boot and shoe industry are not made by the Joint Industrial Council for the industry.