§ 28. Mr. KENNETH LINDSAYasked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information relating to the practice of certain employers who take into consideration the statutory pension of 10s. a week when assessing wages of their employés between the ages of 65 and 70; and whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Mr. STANLEYI am not in possession of information as to the extent to which statutory pensions are taken into consideration by individual employers and workpeople in the assessment of rates of wages, and I am not aware of any collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople providing for the payment of reduced rates of wages to workpeople in receipt of pensions.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not a fact that several local authorities have done this, particularly those dominated by Tories?
Mr. STANLEYI have information only of cases where it is done by collective agreements between the parties, but, in answer to the hon. Gentleman's question, I know of no case where that has been done.
§ Mr. PALINGIs there anything to prevent individual employers or local authorities from doing it?
Mr. STANLEYThere is nothing to prevent employers and employed, by agreement, fixing any rates of wages.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a classical case where an arbitrator in a dispute took into account social services in assessing rates of wages?