§ Mr. FIELDasked the Minister of Labour if the report he has called for respecting the establishment of a Wages Board for Dublin City has come to hand; and whether he is aware of the call and need for its establishment?
§ Mr. HODGEThe inquiries which are being made are necessarily concerned with trades as a whole as carried on both 1949W in Great Britain and Ireland, and it would be impossible to confine them simply to the sections of those trades in Dublin. Such inquiries obviously entail a great deal of investigation, and the reports have not yet been received. When they are received I shall at once consider whether sufficient case has been shown for the establishment of trade boards in any or all of the trades in question; but I would point out to the hon. Member that before a trade board can 1950W be established it is necessary under the existing law to secure the passage of a Provisional Order Bill through Parliament. A Bill to amend the Trade Boards Act has been prepared by the Department with a view to expediting this procedure, but at present I cannot hold out any hope of an immediate establishment of trade boards which would deal with wages in Dublin. I should be glad to have an opportunity of discussing the matter with the hon. Member.