HC Deb 15 September 1931 vol 256 cc666-8
10. Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAM

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the full amount of the deductions made from the wages of the men employed on the Aberfoyle road, Perthshire, for the provision of food; and whether, since the food supplied is from a source upon which a dividend is paid, he will undertake to advise an arrangement by which the men employed will receive an abatement equal to the amount of the dividend which the contractor receives?

The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Major Sir Archibald Sinclair)

With regard to the first part of the question, I am informed that the full amount of the deductions referred to is 19s. 3d. per week, and that, on a recent investigation, this was found to be a reasonable amount for the food supplied. With regard to the second part, I have no information as to the source from which the food supplied is obtained, and the matter is not one in which I can intervene.

Mr. GRAHAM

If the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will make inquiries, he will find that the source from which the food is supplied is the Scottish Cooperative Society, that they pay a dividend, and that the contractor is getting the full advantage of the dividend. Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman have an inquiry made into the matter?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Even if that were the case, I could not interfere with the contractor or the concern from which he obtained the food.

Mr. GRAHAM

That is not the point I am putting. I want to know whether, in the event of the contractor getting a dividend, he will share it out to the men who consume the food, either by reducing the cost of their maintenance or by giving them a proportion of the dividend which conies to him?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

My difficulty is that I have no power to insist upon any such condition. The contractor is employed by the local council and not by me.

11. Mr. GRAHAM

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the men employed on the Aberfoyle road, Perthshire, do not receive from the contractor employing them an account of the time worked by them during each week nor the deductions made from their wages, with the result that they are unable to check the correctness or otherwise of the wages paid to them; and will he undertake to see that a correct rendering of their time and wages is given to them?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

I am informed that it has not been the practice for such accounts to be furnished to the men employed on this scheme and that this is in accordance with the ordinary custom in works of this nature. If, however, any man has reason to suppose that his payment is incorrectly reckoned I assume that it is open to him to verify his payments with the contractor's representatives.

18. Mr. GRAHAM

asked the Minister of Labour whether any men were sent from any of the Labour Exchanges in Scotland to work on the Aberfoyle road, Perthshire, between 7th and 22nd August; if so, how many; and will he state the reason why the Department alleged there was a dispute existing on that road during the whole of that period?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Sixty-seven men were placed by Employment Exchanges in employment on the Aberfoyle road between 7th and 22nd August. In the last part of the question I presume the hon. Member refers to the fact that the insurance officer decided that the stoppage of work on this job due to the dispute did not come to an end till 22nd August; this decision is not within my jurisdiction and is subject to appeal.

Mr. GRAHAM

Can the Minister say what action he proposes to take to prevent the Employment Exchanges from being used as blackleg institutions?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The question as to when this stoppage ceased is a matter for the insurance officer, subject to appeal, and, while the matter is pending, I can do nothing.

Mr. GRAHAM

Is it not a fact that a body of men were sent to work on the Aberfoyle road while the Employment Exchange were taking up the position that there was a dispute in progress on the road?

Sir H. BETTERTON

That is a totally different question from the one on the Order Paper. Perhaps the hon. Member will put it down.