§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a freely negotiated wage rise of 10s. per week for men and 8s. per week for women, affecting some 60,000 to 70,000 workers in the food manufacturing industry on basic rates of £10 7s. and £7 8s. per week, respectively, has been frozen; and if he will state under what statutory authority the Government has taken this action.
§ Mr. GunterThe operative date of the settlement in question, which was reached after publication of the White Paper: Prices and Incomes Standstill (command 3073) is 30th January, 1967. This was agreed by the parties. I am informing them that since this would mean giving effect to the settlement during the period of severe restraint, the settlement will, in the Government's view, have to be considered in the light of the stringent criteria which have yet to be determined for increases in incomes during this period.