§ 26. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour to name the industries which have been safeguarded since the present Government took office in which the wages of the workpeople have been increased; and whether he is in a position to furnish the figures?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIn the packing and wrapping paper-making industry the minimum rates of wages of men in the lower-paid occupations have been raised by 1s. 10d. per week for shift workers and by 2s. 6d. a week for day workers; while those of women have been raised by 2s. 6d. a week. I have no information as to whether the wages of workpeople in other industries in which a safeguarding duty has been imposed from 1925 onwards have been increased.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that packing paper affords the only illustration of an industry in which the workpeople have got an increase?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo, it is the only industry of which I have specific information.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHow is it that the right hon. Gentleman can give the information for one industry in which the wages have been raised, and not for other industries?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIt is a question of classification, and as to whether the workers in one particular industry fall into a group.
Commander WILLIAMSArising out of the original answer, does it not show that there has been a definite increase of wages where there has been safeguarding, and is not that another certificate as to the value of safeguarding?
§ Mr. MACLEANThe right hon. Gentleman can state that increase in one particular trade. Why cannot he give the information about other trades, seeing that when these trades made application to be brought within the Safeguarding of Industries Act they had to place before the Committee certain statements regarding the trade, and what they believed would be the possible results of safeguarding?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman has already answered that question.
§ Mr. MACLEANOn a point of Order. The right hon. Gentleman has not given a reply to that question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHe may not have given a full reply to that question, but he gave a very full reply to the original question.