§ Mr. HOODasked the Minister of Labour whether a Tobacco Trade Board has been recently formed under the Trade Boards Acts and the personnel approved; and whether he can make any statement as to when it will commence to exercise its functions?
§ Sir R. HORNEI made a special Order on 24th January applying the Trade Boards Acts to the tobacco trade. Since 939W then I have been in negotiation with the organisations representing employers and workers in the trade with regard to the selection of their representatives on the Trade Board for Great Britain. The final nominations from the employers were sent to me on 20th February, and they are receiving my consideration together with the nominations received from the workers. In connection with the latter certain points are still under discussion, and as soon as these have been settled I shall be in a position to establish the Trade Board. I am very anxious that the Board should meet as soon as possible, and can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no avoidable delay.