HC Deb 26 July 1922 vol 157 c478W
Lieut.-Colonel HENDERSON

asked the Minister of Labour whether the wages of workers in the laundry trade are governed by a trade board; and how the average existing wage compares with the average wage paid in 1914?

Dr. MACNAMARA

A Trade Board was established for the laundry trade in Great Britain on 1st May, 1919. The minimum rates at present in operation per week of 48. hours are

General minimum time-rate. Basis Tate for pieceworkers.
Men of 21 and over 54s. 54s.
Women of 18 and over 28s. 34s.
There is no information available as to the average wages actually earned by workers in the trade.

The only comprehensive information available as to the average wages earned by workers in the trade before the War is that contained in the Report of the Earnings and Hours Inquiry of 1906, which showed the average earnings of full-time workers in the United Kingdom, per week of 55 hours, to be

Factory laundries. Workshop laundries.
Men of 20 and over 26s. 2d. 22s. 6d.
Women of 18 and over 12s. 10d. 12s. 9d.