§ 4. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour if he has any information as to the extent to which cuts in wages and salaries made during the crisis of the last few years have now been restored in industry?
Mr. HUDSONInformation is regularly published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" with regard to the changes in rates of wages collectively arranged between organised groups of employers and workpeople, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the current issue, which contains, on page 118, statistics for 1933 and previous years and, on page 142, statistics for the first three months of this year. The information in my possession is insufficient, however, to show to what extent reductions in rates of wages have 1857 been made, and restored, by individual employers in unorganised industries; and no statistics of changes in salaries are compiled by my Department.
§ Mr. MANDERMay I take it that it is the general desire of the Government that private employers should restore cuts made within the last few years, so far as they can?
Mr. HUDSONObviously, the steps taken by the Government to improve the general condition of industry will tend towards that end. On account of the fall in the cost of living figure, the present rates of wages have a materially greater purchasing value than was the case two years ago.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWould the hon. Gentleman use his influence with employers, now that the Government have done away with the cuts for the unemployed, to get them to do likewise for their workpeople?
§ Mr. PIKEDo those statistics include figures relative to local authorities and co-operative societies?
§ Mr. MABANEIs it not a fact that msot private employers did not make any cuts in wages?