HC Deb 10 April 1967 vol 744 c740
52. Mr. Higgins

asked the Minister of Labour whether he intends to introduce legislation to remove the statutory duties of wages councils to protect lower paid workers, in view of the conflict with prices and incomes policy.

Mr. Hattersley

I cannot yet add to my reply to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 20th March. —[Vol. 743, c. 182–3.]

Mr. Higgins

Shall we have a satisfactory definition of what is meant by the "lowest-paid worker"?

Mr. Hattersley

The hon. Gentleman will recall the very many evenings we have spent in the House discussing the Government's policy and it is not the Government's policy to give a general definition of the "lowest-paid workers", but to recognise and diagnose them as they come before us under the prices and incomes policy.