§ 33. Captain McEWENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the draft sent to him from the Scottish farm servants union of a scheme for collective bargaining in regard to wages; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. SKELTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend does not think that there is any action which he can usefully take in the matter at present.
§ Captain McEWENAm I to understand from my hon. Friend that the attitude of his Department is on the whole sympathetic towards this matter?
§ Mr. SKELTONSo soon as joint proposals are made to us by the two parties concerned, my right hon. Friend will take every step that can possibly be taken to assist the subject under discussion.
§ Mr. H. STEWARTDoes not the hon. Gentleman consider that as prosperity comes to the farmers as a result of the marketing schemes there will be a reasonable demand made by farm workers for some share of that, and does he not consider that it is the Government's duty to take steps to see that that sharing actually takes place?
§ Mr. SKELTONUp to date in Scotland the wages of farm workers have on the whole, when the situation was good, been a very satisfactory reflection of that situation. I should not be prepared to say, with that historic fact in the background, that it is necessary to take special measures, but we will certainly be most active to take any steps that can bring into being the proposals that are suggested as soon as the two parties have come to some arrangement on the subject.
§ Mr. THORNEDo the farmers recognise the Farm Workers Union?
§ Mr. SKELTONI should require notice of that question.
Lieut.-Colonel MacANDREWDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that the Scottish method is much more satisfactory than the English method?