§ 79 Major Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulties caused by a recent decision of the Agricultural Wages Committee of East Yorkshire relating to overtime charges, which further increases farmers' costings; and, in view of the inability of the industry to meet these charges, will he be prepared to take action?
§ Mr. RamsbothamMy right hon. Friend is aware that the representatives of farmers in the East Riding of Yorkshire have taken exception to a recent decision of the county agricultural wages committee in regard to the minimum rates of wages for certain agricultural workers. The fixation of such minimum rates has been entrusted by Parliament to the wages committee, on which employers and workers are equally represented, and my right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that all relevant considerations were not taken into account by the committee in arriving at their decision.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsIf the farmers think this decision is unsatisfactory, why do they not go on strike or lock themselves out?