HC Deb 18 April 1928 vol 216 cc171-2
Mr. MACLEAN

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed women are being sent by officials of the Employment Exchanges to firms engaged in work which comes under Trade Board rates; that in some cases these women are not paid the Trade Board rates; that when they complain to the Employment Exchange officials they are told if they leave such employment they will be refused benefit for having left their employment; whether he has received any complaints of this character and whether he will issue instructions that where women are sent to such firms the Trade Board rates must be paid, and if this is refused or evaded by the firm and the women leave the work, they will not be penalised by loss of benefit for having left that employment?

Mr. BETTERTON

The Employment Exchanges do not knowingly deal with any vacancies in respect of which less than the statutory minimum rates applicable under the Trade Board Acts are paid, and any such contravention of the Acts coming to their notice is reported to the proper quarter. I am not aware of any cases of the kind to which the hon. Member refers and should be glad to have particulars of them.

areas for the last week-end of March,1927?

Mr. BETTERTON

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the Statement:

Mr. MACLEAN

Did the Parliamentary Secretary not receive a complaint regarding a case in which certain women were sent to a particular establishment at which Trade Board rates were not being paid, and when they went back to the Employment Exchange the women were told not to leave the work or they would be penalised by losing benefit, and when the case was taken up, the firm had to pay a large sum in back wages to the women?

Mr. BETTERTON

I am not aware of those facts, but I can assure the hon. Member that I am just as anxious as he is that any such case should be investigated, and if he will bring any case to my notice I will take what steps are possible regarding it.