§ Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Health the reason why the Chester-le-Street Rural District Council are not allowed to pay the recognised rate of wages hitherto paid by them for the work being done by direct labour on their drainage scheme and other work now being done at Birtley, Berwick Main, and Pelton; and whether he will reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe work on the schemes to which my hon. Friend presumably refers has been completed; I know of no drainage schemes now under construction in these places. The rate of wages was governed by the condition which applies to grant schemes of this kind that it was not to exceed the local authority's rate to its own workmen on similar classes of work or the recognised district rate if lower. The rate agreed to for the work on the schemes 1345W was that fixed for Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the Civil Engineering Conciliation Board. The board had not fixed any rate for Chester-le-Street but there can be little doubt that any rate fixed by them would not exceed that operative in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.