§ 28. Commander MARSDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any provision is made in contracts for the supply of uniforms for His Majesty's Army for the payment of fair wages to and satisfactory working conditions for the employés of the contractors concerned?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)Contracts for uniforms, like Government contracts generally, contain the Fair Wages Clause, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Commander MARSDENAlthough there may be provisions in the clauses of the contracts, may I ask my hon. Friend if his Department takes any initiative in seeing that the provisions in these clauses are carried out?
§ Mr. COOPERWe rely upon the firms with whom we make contracts carrying out those contracts according to their terms. If it were brought to our notice that a contract had been broken, we should always be extremely anxious to take action.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESCan the hon. Gentleman say whether any of these contracts are given to those foreign firms who have established so many factories in this country?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of this question.