HC Deb 20 February 1951 vol 484 cc1038-9
13. Mr. Percy Wells

asked the Minister of Labour what are the current minimum rates of wages paid to Kent stock brick-makers; and how these compare with those operating in 1939 and 1945.

Mr. Lee

As the answer contains a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

the registered office of the employer is located is misleading, if he will consider registering employed where they live and not where their employers' registered office is located.

Mr. Lee

No, Sir. The figures collected by the Ministry of Labour and National Service of the number of employees in an industry are based on the exchange of insurance cards and are therefore classified according to the local office where these cards are exchanged. Most employers find it convenient to exchange the National Insurance cards of their employees in bulk. The classification of these cards individually by address of the employee would impose a considerable extra burden of clerical work which I do not think could be justified.

Sir W. Darling

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, while there would be a good deal of extra work involved, the figures for the City of Edinburgh, for example, show a vast surplus of building labour which certain people think should be employed in Edinburgh, though in actual fact this labour is engaged in other parts of the country?

Mr. Lee

I realise the hon. Gentleman's difficulty, but I think he would agree that it would be wrong to absorb more people in unproductive work of this type at a time when we need them so badly in productive industry.