§ Lieut.-Colonel WHITEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the inconvenience and confusion caused in many industries owing to the operations of several trade boards in the same business 1322W or firm; and whether, to prevent such overlapping, he will introduce legislation to obviate the existing state of affairs by means of a National Minimum Wage Bill or other methods?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, the Trade Boards Acts can be applied only to specified trades separately. The scope of Trade Boards has always been settled in consultation with employers and workers concerned. Owing to the complexities of industry it is sometimes the case that more than one trade is carried on by one employer. In these cases every effort has been made to frame the scope of the Boards with a view to causing the minimum inconvenience, and the operation of Trade Boards is carefully watched in order that amendments suggested by experience may be made. If my hon. and gallant Friend will be good enough to give me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I shall be glad to give them careful consideration and to communicate further with him.