§ 82. Mr. LEESasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is prepared, in view of the proposed reduction of agricultural workers' wages in Suffolk to 28s. per week, to introduce legislation giving full power to the Central Agricultural Wages Board to deal with such questions?
§ Dr. ADDISONI will carefully consider my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am afraid that such legislation is impracticable at present.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is asking the Minister his opinion, which is not in order at Question Time.
§ Mr. LEESOn a point of Order. How does it come that a question to a Minister is entirely out of order when two hours were wasted last night?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am dealing with the present time and not with last night.
§ Mr. LEESSeeing that the Government have found time to deal with certain Bills, cannot they bring in a Bill to introduce a central wages board and give it the power it had in 1917?
§ Dr. ADDISONIf my hon. Friend will read the answer, he will see that I say I will consider the suggestion, but there is no time for further legislation.
§ 84. Mr. LEESasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the Suffolk Agricultural Wages Committee have decided to reduce the agricultural workers' wages to 28s. per week; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Dr. ADDISONI understand that the Suffolk Agricultural Wages Committee have decided to issue a notice of proposal 1455 to reduce the minimum rates of wages as stated. Before the proposal can be made effective, however, a period of 14 days must elapse from the date of the notice, during which time any objections can be lodged for the committee's consideration.
§ Mr. LEESWill the Minister, if the committee confirm their proposed rate of 28s. per week, use his powers under Section 6 of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act to call upon the committee to consider the matter again?
§ Dr. ADDISONPerhaps my hon. Friend will defer that question.