§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Employment what purposes wages councils now serve; and if he will reconsider their relevance to present conditions.
§ Mr. Jim LesterWages councils, which were first set up in 1909, make statutory wage orders determining minimum pay, holidays and other terms and conditions for workers they cover, in industries where there is no adequate machinery for collective bargaining. Councils are merged or abolished from time to time and I am always prepared to consider the case for this.