§ 13. Sir JOHN POWERasked the Minister of Labour if she can state whether the average earnings of persons employed by municipal gas, electricity, tramway and water undertakings are higher or lower than the average' earnings of persons employed by similar company-owned undertakings; and if she can furnish the statistics for the latest date for which they are available?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe rates of wages in the industries to which the hon. Member refers are fixed by joint industrial councils, upon which both municipal and private undertakings are represented. The rates vary according to the zone in which a municipal or private undertaking is placed by the council. A statement of the average earnings in these industries was published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for December, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.