§ 2. Mr. William Shepherdasked the Minister of Labour what percentage of workers engaged in productive capacities are affected by payment by result arrangements.
§ Mr. IsaacsAmongst the manual workers employed by firms in manufacturing industries in April last, 30 per cent. were paid by piece rates or by other forms of payment by results. Details in respect of individual industries were given in the October issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette." Information is not available as to the proportion of persons actually employed on productive processes who were so remunerated.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs it not a fact from the details available that the percentages now and in 1938 remain almost static; and in view of the Government's pretensions on this method of payment what are they going to do about it?
§ Mr. IsaacsUntil I am satisfied that the observations in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's Question are correct, I could not make any comment on the second part.
§ Mr. ShepherdSurely the right hon. Gentleman knows that a Committee has been appointed by his own Department and can give this information?
§ Mr. IsaacsI have answered the hon. Gentleman's Question on the Order Paper, and if he wants more information I shall be glad to get it for him.