§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he is aware that the present contractors for the Houses of Parliament have recently reduced the wages of their masons' labourers 25 per cent, say from 6d. per hour to 4½d. per hour, and that some of the masons' labourers are often suspended in a cradle, repairing the tower, at a height of between 200 and 200 feet; whether the Government get the benefit of any portion of this reduction in the cost of labour, or whether such reduction was taken into account when fixing the terms of the contract; and, whether this reduction in the rate of wages was made with the sanction of the Government?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)I am sorry to say that I cannot give the hon. Member the information he desires, as I have no official knowledge as to the rate of wages paid by the contractor to the stonemason's labourers employed at the Houses of Parliament; nor have I any right to inquire into the subject. How far the contractor took into account the possibility of making reductions in the wages he pays his men I cannot say; but the Government certainly would not directly derive any advantage from such reductions, and their sanction has not been given or asked. In the case of men working in dangerous places we pay our contractor 50 per cent additional; and I be sorry to think that the men so employed did not receive a corresponding benefit.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)Will the First Commissioner make some inquiry into the matter?
§ MR. PLUNKETI am afraid that in the nature of the contract I have no right to inquire.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSWill he consider the advisability of seeing to it in future contracts?
§ MR. PLUNKETThat raises a large question, which I could hardly enter upon in reply to a Question across the Table of the House.