HC Deb 20 February 1951 vol 484 cc1036-7
11. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that of the total working population in civil employment of 22,511,000 over 10 million are engaged in transport, distribution, professional, financial and miscellaneous services and in the Civil Service; and what special steps he is taking to see that some of this labour is made mobile so as to ensure availability of adequate labour for the defence programme.

Mr. Lee

The provision of labour for the defence programme means finding the right type of labour in the right place. I would refer the hon. Member to the statements made by my right hon. Friend and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on mobility of labour in the defence debate on 15th February.

Mr. Osborne

Yes, but I asked the Parliamentary Secretary if he would take special steps to get some of these 10 million people put into productive industry if they are required for the defence programme?

Mr. Lee

I hope that the hon. Gentleman is not now proposing that we should

The Table below shows the minimum time rates of wages in the stock brick manufacturing industry in North-East Kent in agreements made by the National Joint Council for the Building Brick and Allied Industries and the Joint Industrial Council for the Stock Brick Manufacturing Industry.
Class of Worker Minimum Hourly Rates of Wages operating on:—
10th February, 1951 10th October, 1945 1st April,* 1942
s. d. s. d. s. d.
Able-bodied adult male workers:—
Labourers, earth-diggers, sorters (clamp) and off-bearers (machine made) 2 4 1 7† 1 3‡
Sorters (Kiln-car) crowders, off-bearers (hand made) and temperers (hand or machine made) 2 4½ 1 7½† 1 3½†
Setters and moulders (hand or machine made) 2 5 1 8† 1 4‡
Per 8-hour shift Per 8-hour shift
Burners 2 6║ 15 4† 11 0
Boiler Firemen 2 5║ — —
Per week Per week
Women 18 years and over 1 9 50 0 36 0§
Hours of labour in a full week 44 48 48
* This is the first date for which figures are available.
† Subject to the addition of 1d. an hour for each and every hour worked.
‡ Plus war bonus of 1d. an hour.
§ Plus war bonus of 4d. a day.
║ Burners and boiler firemen employed on a three eight-hour system are paid in addition a shift allowance of 2d. an hour, and on a two eight-hour system 1d. a hour.