§ 4. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a youth, 18 years of age, who, on 13th April, 1940, was employed by a colliery in Gloucester shire and earned approximately £1 14s. per week, has obtained another job, mixing concrete on runways, at Gloucester, and for the week ending 27th April received £4 18s.; and, as payments of this character are undesirable and against the national interests, will he take steps to prevent them in future?
§ Mr. BevinI have no information concerning the case to which my hon. Friend refers. I assume that the wages paid were based upon the agreed rates for the work in question and they would of course be affected by the number of hours worked.
§ Mr. HiggsIs the Minister aware that this case has caused considerable dissatisfaction in the district, and that I have other cases of the same character?
§ Mr. LawsonDoes not the Minister think that the wages received by the colliery worker mentioned in the Question were undesirable and against the national interest to begin with?
§ Mr. BevinWhen the House imposed powers upon the Ministry of Labour to operate, it laid down the principle of the rate for the job, and to that I adhere.