§ 9. Sir Annesley Somervilleasked the Minister of Labour what requests he has received to issue instructions, of a kind that might influence their decisions, to the independent persons appointed by the Ministry of Labour to act in a judicial capacity as members of trade boards; and will he bring to the notice of these boards the necessity of taking into consideration the Government's declared policy to stabilise the cost of living?
§ Mr. BevinI have myself received no request of this kind, and, for the reason given to my hon. Friend in my reply of 3rd July, I should consider it quite improper to comply with such a request, or to take any equivalent action such as my hon. Friend suggests in the second part of his Question.
§ Sir A. SomervilleDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is of the 289 highest importance that trade boards should fully realise the importance of taking into consideration such a policy?
§ Mr. BevinI am quite certain that the chairmen of the trade boards are such competent people that they take all relevant factors into consideration. I will not take any step to interfere with them in their judicial function.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs it not a fact that any increase in wages always follows an increase in the cost of living?