§ 69. Sir WILFRID SUGDENasked the Minister of Labour what rates of wages are paid to blind persons under the Sudbury scheme or other Government scheme; how such rates compete with market prices, particularly from Belgian sources: and if he can give details of prices in respect to the British Cyrr industry?
§ Captain MARGESSONI have been asked to reply. The Sudbury scheme is a schedule of about 450 different piece prices which was approved by the Eastern District Council for the Coir Mat and Matting Industry in 1919. Since then there have been two awards of the Industrial Court affecting wages in the trade. My right hon. Friend cannot say how far these awards apply to blind workers in the trade, and regrets that he has no information as to the relation between wages and prices in this country or as to wages or prices in Belgium.
§ Sir W. SUGDENWill the hon. and gallant Member represent to the Minister of Labour the terribly unfair competition from the Belgian and the French against our blind people, and will he institute an inquiry to see how that can be counteracted?
§ Captain MARGESSONI will represent that point to my right hon. Friend.