HC Deb 26 July 1949 vol 467 cc2240-1
43. Mr. Erroll

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the decision to adopt the recommendations of the Resale Price Maintenance Committee and to endeavour to do away with existing collective systems of price protection of certain products sold in shops, he intends to take similar action to put an end to existing collective systems for protecting wages of the employees in the retail trade.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)

No, Sir.

Mr. Mikardo

Is not the difference between resale price maintenance and collective wage bargaining that the first is designed to maintain prices over the true value of the goods while the second is designed to raise wages to the true value of the services rendered? Can my right hon. Friend explain that point in words of one syllable, which even the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) will understand?

Mr. Ness Edwards

That would be too arduous a task for me.

Mr. Erroll

Is it not an inevitable corollary of fixed wage agreements that there must be some fixing of prices, too?

Mr. Ness Edwards

I hope Members on both sides of the House will not advocate the destruction of industrial relations in our conciliation system.