§ Mr. Lindsayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that unskilled men employed at slaughter-houses by his Ministry are paid £4 and £5 a week, which is more than the assistant superintendent earns; and whether he will take steps to remedy such inequalities, which are causing considerable dissatisfaction among skilled employés?
§ Mr. BoothbyI assume that my hon. Friend refers to men employed at the Kilmarnock slaughter-house, which is also used as a meat distribution depot. The Ministry has arranged with the Kilmarnock Town Council for council officials, including the assistant superintendent, to undertake certain duties on the Department's behalf at the public slaughterhouse in return for a lump sum payment to the council. I am not aware of the wages paid by the council to their assistant superintendent or of the particular unskilled men employed in the slaughter-house to which my hon. Friend refers. No unskilled labour is employed directly by the Ministry at the slaughterhouse. The majority of persons working on the premises are employed either by the slaughtering contractor or by the Wholesale Meat Supply Association, who make their own arrangements as to the wages of their employés. The association employs a skilled and experienced man as depot manager and meat "humpers," whose wages, I am informed, do not reach the figures quoted by my hon. Friend. I understand that the slaughter-men are paid by the contractor on a 1041W headage basis, which is the normal custom in the trade, and their earnings vary from week to week according to the numbers of stock available for slaughter. So far as I am aware no unskilled men employed at the slaughter-house are paid £4 to £5 per week.