§ Mr. BOWENasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases of underpayment of wages arising out of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, dealt with by the Ministry; the total sum recovered as arrears of wages; the sum recovered as arrears of wages following prosecution; the sum recovered without prosecution; the total number of prosecutions; and the amount of fines and costs imposed as a result of successful prosecution?
§ Dr. ADDISONUp to 22nd April, 1930, the Ministry had dealt with 4,872 cases, under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) 387W Act, 1924, of employers who had paid less than the minimum rates of wages. The total sum recovered in arrears of wages has been £54,186, of which £10,031 was obtained as a result of prosecutions and £44,155 without prosecution. The number of employers prosecuted for failing to pay the minimum rates was 483, and in the cases where conviction resulted the Courts imposed £1,341 in fines and £621 in costs.
§ Mr. BOWENasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the number of cases of agricultural workers dismissed from their employment after the acceptance of compromise settlements in cases of underpayment of wages investigated by the Ministry under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, he will state what is the nature of the steps hitherto taken to prevent such dismissals; and whether, in view of the fear of dismissal preventing workers from reporting and in view of the immunity of the employer 388W from penalty in such compromise settlements, he will consider the advisability of obtaining in all cases where prosecution is not decided upon an undertaking that the employé will not be dismissed in consequence of the Ministry's action?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy right hon. Friend is aware that, in a certain number of cases, agricultural workers have been dismissed from their employment after the farm has been inspected in order to ascertain whether the wages being paid are in accordance with the prescribed rates. Action of this sort receives no support from the leaders of agriculture, and while he greatly deplores the action of employers in dismissing workers in consequence of an inspection by the Ministry, my right hon. Friend has no power to prevent such dismissals, nor is he in a position to require an undertaking from the employer such as is suggested by my hon. Friend.