§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Labour whether his Department is prepared to consider steps to check the supply of cheap labour in the catering 267W and domestic service of the country; and what is the rate of wages, respectively, below which situations are not now offered to applicants at the various exchanges?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply given on the 4th March to questions by the Noble Lord, the Member for Derbyshire West (Marquess of Hartington) and others, with regard to the application of the Trade Boards Acts to the catering trade. As regards domestic service, I am advised that this is not a trade within the meaning of those Acts. In reply to the second part of the question, it is no part of the duty of Employment Exchanges to inquire as to whether wages are suitable, provided always that there is no minimum rate fixed by law which is being infringed. When the question of stoppage of benefit arises there are rules with which no doubt the hon. Member is familiar.