§ Mr. KENYONasked the Minister of Labour what is the lowest of the minima fixed by trade boards for adult women workers; whether there are any classes of adult women workers whose average wage is less than the lowest of these minima; if so, what the employments in question are; and what is the average wage in each case?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe minimum time rates of wages fixed by trade boards for women in Great Britain range from 7d. per hour for women in the laundry and lace-finishing trades to 11¼d per hour for women in the boot and shoe-repairing trade. Moreover, certain trade boards have fixed minimum rates, identical with the men's rates, for women employed on certain skilled operations normally performed by men. There are, of course, employments where lower rates are being paid, but, as I have already explained, action is being taken to establish with the least possible delay trade boards to meet the circumstances in these trades.
§ Mr. KENYONasked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of adult males in this country in receipt of a weekly wage of less than £4?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am afraid no statistics are available which would enable trustworthy estimates to be made. In order to make such estimates it would be necessary to obtain information as to the individual wages of workpeople, both time-workers and piece-workers, and as to the numbers of such workpeople, in all industries, occupations and districts throughout the country.