Clause 34 - Enforcement officers for agricultural wages legislation
Employment Relations Bill
10:45 am
Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers), Department of Trade and Industry; Bradford South, Labour)
I hear what the hon. Gentleman is saying. However, there are many detailed differences between the two systems and the ways in which they are enforced. An additional complicating factor is that agriculture is a devolved matter. DEFRA has been enforcing the agricultural minimum wage, or its nearest equivalent, for more than 50 years. It has expertise in the area. We are always looking at ways to
rationalise and improve the situation, but because of the detailed differences that exist it is appropriate for us to deal with it in this way.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 34 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 35 ordered to stand part of the Bill.