§ 8. Sir Irving Alberyasked the Minister of Labour whether, where he has directed men to leave their ordinary place of employment and work elsewhere and this has resulted in lowering their earnings and their incurring train travelling expenses, he contemplates any action to remedy this grievance?
§ Mr. McCorquodaleMy right hon. Friend recognises that there are cases of this sort, as well as many others in which loss of earnings arises from war conditions without any direction from the Department. The rate of wages, including any allowance for travelling expenses, must in general be governed by the industrial agreements applicable to the new employment. He regrets that he cannot see any practicable method of making new arrangements for State subvention in these cases.
§ Sir I. AlberyDoes my hon. Friend realise that these men do not complain so much of the hardship caused by the war as of injustice and inequality? Will he draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the fact that the effect of this is to impose double taxation when it comes to paying Income Tax?
§ Mr. McCorquodaleI am afraid we cannot depart from the principle of the rate for the job.
§ Mr. StephenDoes the hon. Gentleman consider it just to impose additional taxation on these people as compared with other citizens?
§ Mr. McCorquodaleThat is another question.