§ 14. Mr. Leslieasked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the 604 advisability of setting up a trade board for the catering trade, in view of the low wages and long hours imposed upon women employed in the trade to the detriment of their health?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe hon. Member may rest assured that among other possibilities the question of action under the Trade Boards Acts will not be overlooked in my consideration of the most effective methods of regulating conditions in this field. If the hon. Member can furnish particulars of the low wages and long hours to which he refers I shall be glad to consider them.
§ Mr. LeslieIs the Minister not aware that there is any amount of evidence in his office as to the bad conditions in the catering trade?
§ Mr. BrownI am aware that I initiated the general conference which has produced a unanimous report and has led to a long step forward in many businesses in the last 2½ years.
§ Mr. Graham WhiteWill perambulating ice-cream salesmen be covered by the trade boards?
§ Mr. BrownI should not like to say off-hand. I believe that I did give an answer on that point some weeks ago.