§ Mr. J. Rodgersasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement as to his reasons for making an order for an increase in the pay of workers in the retail food trades.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOn 11th April the Retail Food Trades Wages Council (England and Wales) gave notice of its intention to submit proposals for new rates of statutory minimum remuneration for workers covered by the Council. After allowing fourteen days for any written representations with respect to its proposals, the Council met again on 2nd May and considered the representations received. The Council submitted the proposals to me on 5th May and I was informed that the Council had unanimously decided to submit the proposals as published.
Wages Councils are statutory bodies established under the Wages Councils Acts, 1945 to 1948. A Council consists of equal numbers of members representing workers and employers in relation to whom the Council operates, together with not more than three independent members. Under the Acts their proposals have to be published and a Council has to consider any representations made. The Council then submits the proposals to me asking that a Wages Regulation Order be made to give effect to them. When I receive proposals I am bound to make an Order unless for some special reasons I think the Council should reconsider the proposals. If nevertheless the Council is not willing to alter them I have no alternative but to make an Order giving effect to the proposals. The making of an Order under this procedure does not therefore imply that the proposals have my approval.