§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment why, in view of the Government's decision not to give an increase above 10 per cent. to the firemen, he has agreed to increases in excess of this figure by the Joint Industrial Council for the food industry; and whether all workers will be able to claim similar increases.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI presume that my hon. Friend refers to the settlement reached by the Retail Food Trades Wages Council for England and Wales. This is an independent statutory body and I820W had no power to intervene in its negotiations, other than to make representations with regard to its published proposals, which I did.