§ 12 and 13. Mr. MALCOLM MacMILLANasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the road workers in the Western Isles are being paid much less in many cases by Ross-shire and Inverness local authorities than they formerly received in unemployment benefit; and whether he will take steps to investigate, report upon, and end these conditions;
§ paid to each chairman since the setting up of the board?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI assume the hon. Member refers to the appeal tribunals set up under the Unemployment Act, 1934. As the answer contains a table of names and figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the particulars:
§ (2) whether he is aware of the conditions of labour in the Western Isles where road workers are being compelled to give part of their labour free in order to secure work under the county councils of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness, and that wages often are as low as 2½d. and 3d. an hour; and when he intends to end this under-paid labour?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADMy right hon. Friend has no authority to control the rates of wages paid by local authorities, nor has he any information with regard to the cases to which the hon. Member refers. In reply to a previous question on 20th February he said that he would make inquiries if the hon. Member would give him detailed particulars, and the hon. Member has not yet done this.
§ Mr. MacMILLANWill the hon. and gallant Member himself take steps to get these statistics, as it is not my job?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI think my right hon. Friend met the hon. Member reasonably by asking him, as he had raised the question himself, to bring details of specific cases to his notice.