§ 9. Mr. Manderasked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to secure a minimum wage for all employed persons, male and female, below which it shall be illegal to employ them.
§ Mr. BevinI think this object can best be achieved by means of the well-tried method of joint negotiations for the regulation of wages in industry, supplemented in appropriate cases by statutory wage fixing machinery.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the fact that there are certain classes of labour very difficult to organise in trade unions, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the definite policy of the Government to establish a national minimum wage by some means or other?
§ 12. Mr. Dolandasked the Minister of Labour in view of the announcement on 16th July 1942 that it was the policy of the Government to try to establish for the post-war period minimum wage regulations for all forms of employment and in view of the anxiety of the men and women serving overseas, if he has any further statement to make on this post-war question.
§ Mr. BevinI realise the importance of ensuring for the post-war period that 344 there is adequate machinery for the effective regulation of wages and conditions of employment so that recognised standards are established and observed. I am at present engaged in formulating proposals for this purpose but am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. DolandCan the Minister give some idea as to when he will be able to make a statement?
§ Mr. ManderCan my right hon. Friend now answer the supplementary question which I put earlier, namely, whether it is the definite policy of the Government to establish by one means or another a national standard minimum wage?
§ Mr. BevinIt is the policy of the Government to establish machinery that will have the power to establish minimum wages in all cases. I must distinguish between the machinery established by the Government for this purpose and the fixing of minimum wages by the Government itself.