§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Labour the trades in which there exists a legalised minimum wage; and the amount of such wage in each case?
§ Mr. SHAWWith regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given on the 12th May to the hon. Member for East Grinstead (Sir H. Cautley) With regard to the second part, I append a table which shows the minimum time rates in force under the Trade Boards Acts for the lowest paid classes of adult workers (male and female) in each case. I am informed that no legal minimum rates of wages are in force under the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921. Minimum rates of wages for underground workers in the Coalmining Industry under the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Act, 1912, vary in the different Districts and for the different classes of workers within each District. For further details thereof reference should be made to my hon. Friend the Secretary for the Mines Department.
Following is the table:
2413W2414W2415W
SUMMARY OF TRADE BOARDS MINIMUM RATES AS ON 1ST JULY, 1924. General Minimum Time-Rates for the lowest paid class of adult workers. (Except where otherwise shown the rates are operative at the age of 18 in the case of females and at 21 in the case of males.) Trade. Female Workers. Male Workers. Per Hour. Per Hour. d. s. d. Aerated Waters (E. & W.). 6½ 1 0½ Aerated Waters (Scot.) — — Orkney and Shetlands 5½ 11½ Rest of Scotland 6½ 1 0½ Boot and Floor Polish 7½ 1 1½ Boot and Shoe Repairing 10 (a) 1 2¼ Brush and Broom 6¼ (a) 10¾ Button-making 6½ 1 1½ Chain* 6 3/10(e) 1 4⅛ (e) Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making— Coffin Furniture Section 6¾6/7(a) 1 2¼4/7 Cerement Making Section 7¼ (b) — Corset 7 1 1 (d) Cotton Waste— England and Wales 7 1 0 Scotland 6¾ 1 0 Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing— (1) England and Wales— (a) Retail Bespoke Section 6¼, 7, 7½ (c) 1 0 (d) (b) Other Sections 7 1 0 (d) (2) Scotland— (a) Retail Bespoke Section 7, 7½ (c) 1 2 (d) (b) Other Sections 6½ Flax and Hemp 6¼ 10¼½ Fur 8¾ 1 2 General Waste 6¼ 11 Hair Bass and Fibre 6¾ 11¼ Hat, Cap and Millinery— (i) England and Wales 7 1 1 (d) (ii) Scotland— (a) Wholesale Cloth Hat and Cap Section 7½ 1 2 (d) (b) Other Sections. 7, 7½ (c) Hollow-ware 6¾ 11½ Jute 6¼ 9¾⅞ Lace* 6¼ — Laundry— Cornwall and North of Scotland 6½ 1 1½ Rest of Great Britain 7 Linen and Cotton Handkerchief, etc. 6½ 1 0 Made-up Textiles 6¼ 10¾ Milk Distributive— (i) England and Wales 6⅜, 7½ 10½, 1/1 (ii) Scotland 8⅝ (c) 1 2 (c) 6⅛ (a) 11⅜ Ostrich Feather, etc. 7 1 0 (d) Paper Bag 7¼ 1 1⅛ Paper Box 7⅓ 1 0¼ Perambulator, etc. 6¾ (a) 11½ Pin, Hook and Eye 6½ (a) 10¾ Ready-made and Wholesale Bespoke 6½ 10¾ (d) NOTES.—(a) At 21 years of age. (d) At 22 years of age. (b) At 24 years of age. (e) Approximate. (c) According to population. * The minimum rates in the Chain Trade and the Lace Finishing Trade are not fixed by reference to sex. The rates shown under the column "Female Workers" are those applicable to work wholly or mainly performed by women, and the rates shown under the column "Male Workers" are those applicable to work wholly or mainly performed by men.
Trade. Female Workers. Male Workers. Per Hour. Per Hour. d. s. d. Retail Bespoke … … … 7½ 1 0 Rope, Twine and Net … … … 6¼ 10 Sack and Bag … … … 6½ 11½ Shirtmaking … … … 6½ 1 2 (d) Stamped or Pressed Metals … … … 6 11 Sugar Confectionery … … … 6¾ 1 0 (b) Tin Box … … … 7¼ 1 1 Tobacco … … … 9⅝ (a) 3⅜ Toy … … … 6¾ (a) 1 0½ Wholesale Mantle and Costume … … … 6½ 10½ (d) NOTES.—(a) At 21 years of age. (b) At 24 years of age. (d) At 22 years of age.