§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Labour if he has any figures showing in which industry the lowest wages are paid; what that rate of wages is for men and women; and will he furnish particulars and say whether or no he will appoint a Trade Board to fix a minimum wage?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe information available as to wages in different industries, occupations and districts is not sufficient to enable me to state in which industry the lowest wages are paid. The Government's policy regarding the application of the Trade Boards Acts to new trades was described in a reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Drake Division of Plymouth (Sir A. 2263W Shirley Benn) on 16th December last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour whether rates of wages have been fixed for other Trade Boards established at the same time, or subsequent to, the establishment of the Grocery Trade Board (England and Wales) in 1920; whether he will declare the present policy of the Government in relation to Trade Boards; and to what extent, if any, the setting up of the Cave Committee of Inquiry has delayed the confirmation of rates of wages fixed by Trade Boards other than the Grocery Trade Board?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the present policy of the Government in respect of trade boards, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in reply to a question by the hon. Gentleman the Member for the Drake Division (Sir A. Shirley Benn) on the 16th December last. With regard to the last part of the question, the confirmation of minimum rates of wages was not
Country. Legal Maximum Hours. Remarks. France 48 Overtime on account of exceptional pressure of work is permitted up to 150 hours per annum; the daily hours may in no case exceed 10. Germany 48 A decree of 21st December, 1923, permits exceptional extension of the hours of labour, by agreement between employers and workpeople, up to 10 hours per diem. In November, 1924, an Inquiry by the German General Confederation of Trade Unions showed that 66 per cent. of the textile workers covered by the Inquiry worked over 48 hours per week. Italy 48 Extensions of the hours shown are possibly permissible in certain circumstances, but information upon this point is not available. Russia Czecbslovakia Spain Belgium Netherlands Austria Switzerland Sweden Portugal Finland Denmark Norway Poland 46 Extensions of the hours shown are possibly permissible in certain circumstances, but information upon this point is not available.