§ 49. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many berry pickers are employed harvesting the raspberries in Perthshire and other areas; what is the standard rate of wages; and if he will arrange with the Minister of Labour to investigate wages and conditions with a view to improvement?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have no information as to the number of persons employed in picking raspberries in Perthshire and other areas, but I may be able to obtain an estimate in the course of a day or two. With regard to the second part of the question, I am informed that the standard rate of wages for this work is five-eighths of a penny per pound of fruit. Neither my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour nor I has any statutory powers with regard to the wages 2228 paid for berry picking, and I am not satisfied that the special investigation suggested in the last part would serve any useful purpose.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the raspberry growers are now receiving so big a price that they turned down the raspberry marketing scheme, and will he have an investigation made to see what the wages are in that industry?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe information supplied to me, as contained in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member opposite, was that the rate is five-eighths. of a penny per pound of fruit.
Mr. KIRKWOOODIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the district all around the berry-pickers is scandalised because of the terrible conditions under which the berry-pickers work, and live, and move, and have their being?
§ Sir G. COLLINSSuch information has not yet reached me.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODNow that the right hon. Gentleman has got that information, what action is he going to take?
§ Sir G. COLLINSA matter of local conditions is, as my hon. Friend knows, a matter for the local authorities where these people live.