§ 38. Mr. LEWISasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the test inspections undertaken from time to time under the Agricultural Wages Act, 1924, show any diminution in the proportion of cases where wages lower than those laid down by law are being in fact paid?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe investigations undertaken under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act to test the observance of the minimum rates fixed under the Act show little variation year by year in the proportion of cases where the Act is found to be infringed.
§ Mr. LEWISWould the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his policy of reducing the number of test inspections and give us more inspections, such as he had last year, so that the agricultural workers might feel that they were adequately protected?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say why there were only one-third the number of test inspections?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe reduction in inspections was due to the need for economy. I am satisfied that very full inspections are carried out.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAs the inspectorate has been reduced by approximately one-quarter and the number of test inspections has been cut down by one-third, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that more test inspections might take place with the present inspectorate, if he had the will?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir.