HC Deb 27 February 1940 vol 357 cc1912-3W
Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the serious discontent among the employés in the cinema industry of South Wales, he will consider investigating the possibilities of applying the Trade Boards Act to this industry?

Mr. E. Brown

As I have stated on previous occasions, I am of opinion that in general the regulation of wages and other conditions of employment can best be dealt with by the ordinary method of negotiation between employers and workpeople, a method by means of which good progress has been made in the case of cinema employés in recent years. With regard to the position in South Wales, I am informed that collective agreements relating to the wages and conditions of employment are in operation in a number of districts, and that in certain other centres standards of wages and conditions have been agreed with individual cinema proprietors. In addition, the Industrial Relations Office for Wales is in constant touch with the parties with a view to rendering such assistance in negotiation as may be possible.