§ 50. Mr. Winnickasked the Minister of Labour if he will consult with industry in the private and public sectors with a view to legislation to increase the pay of those employees whose earnings are less than if they were on National Assistance.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. R. J. Gunter)I doubt whether such legislation is the right way to deal with this very complex problem.
§ Mr. WinnickIs it not absolutely disgraceful that there are people with families who are paid less than they would receive if they were on National Assistance? Is not this one way of doing away with the notorious wage stop? Would not my right hon. Friend agree that it is part of a positive incomes policy that such people in the lower income groups should be helped?
§ Mr. GunterI doubt very much whether the minimum wage suggested would answer the problems which my hon. Friend raises. Much of the poverty arises from large families, and the minimum wage suggested would not meet that point.
§ Sir K. JosephSurely the right hon. Gentleman will agree that the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) has raised a most important subject. Will he assure us that either through industry from his Department or by social methods through one of his colleagues' Departments the Government will deal urgently with this very serious problem?
§ Mr. GunterMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, is now conducting a survey from which we might obtain better statistics on this matter.